Chicago Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on a major infrastructure project in Chicago’s Ashburn community that aims to improve roadway safety, reduce congestion and provide more reliable emergency access by eliminating a busy rail crossing.
City officials, community leaders and project partners recently broke ground on the Columbus Avenue and The Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC) Grade Separation Project, a key improvement being delivered through the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program.
The project will replace the existing at-grade rail crossing on Columbus Avenue near Maplewood Avenue with a new grade-separated structure, separating vehicle traffic from freight trains and eliminating potential train-vehicle conflicts.
“This grade separation project is a critical investment in Chicago’s South Side and the Ashburn community,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “As the nation’s freight rail hub, Chicago is proud to work alongside our CREATE Program partners to deliver this project, which will improve safety, reduce delays, and provide more reliable access for the residents, businesses, and first responders who travel along this corridor.”
The crossing has been identified as a 911 Critical Crossing, where freight train activity can create significant delays for police, fire and emergency medical services responding to calls.
Approximately 11,500 vehicles and 32 freight trains travel through the crossing each day, contributing to congestion and creating safety concerns. Once complete, the GS11 project is expected to reduce travel delays for motorists while improving emergency response reliability.
“This groundbreaking marks a significant investment in the safety, connection, and future of our community,” said 18th Ward Alderman Derrick Curtis. “This new railroad crossing will improve access for residents, businesses, and first responders while supporting continued growth and economic opportunity.”
The project is supported by a $49.9 million investment through the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Competitive Freight Program and represents a partnership between state, city and private-sector organizations.
The GS11 project is part of the broader CREATE Program, an initiative designed to improve freight and passenger rail infrastructure throughout the Chicago region, the largest rail hub in North America. The program focuses on reducing freight bottlenecks, improving safety and strengthening connections between communities.
“CDOT is proud to help turn years of planning and partnership into meaningful improvements for the Ashburn community,” said Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner William Cheaks Jr. “This project will eliminate conflicts between trains and vehicles, improve emergency access, and make it safer and easier for residents, businesses, and freight traffic to move through this corridor.”
The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, which plays a major role in the movement of freight throughout the region and across the country, said the project reflects the importance of investing in both transportation infrastructure and surrounding communities.
“Projects like GS11 keep that freight moving while strengthening the communities we operate in,” said Jerry Peck, president of the Belt Railway Company of Chicago. “CREATE is the model for how this gets done.”
When completed, the Columbus Avenue Grade Separation Project will provide a safer and more efficient corridor for residents, businesses, emergency responders and freight operators while supporting the continued growth of Chicago’s transportation network.
