State, Feds Fund Next Phase of Springfield Rail Improvement Project

SPRINGFIELD, IL—Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was joined by federal, state and local leaders on Friday to break ground on the next phase of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project that will involve the construction of double-track rail bridges at Fifth and Sixth Streets—known as Business Loop 55—as well as the Laurel Street underpass.

The Rebuild Illinois capital program invested $122 million to fully complete the Springfield Rail Improvement Project, including nearly $30 million to begin this phase of the project.

“Illinois isn’t just making repairs to our infrastructure. Instead, our state is finally making real investments for the future with the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan—establishing Illinois as a leading supply chain hub of the nation for generations to come, making sure our roads are safer for drivers and passengers, and saving money for all of our residents,” says Gov. Pritzker.

The overall Springfield Rail Improvements Project will relocate all passenger and freight traffic from the Third Street corridor to Tenth Street, constructing underpasses and one overpass at critical rail crossings on both the Tenth and Nineteenth Street corridors. The project addresses issues of public safety, traffic congestion, community livability and commercial development, state officials note. An underpass at Carpenter Street was completed in 2016 and an underpass at Ash Street opened Nov. 1. The project is being directed as a cooperative venture of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Sangamon County and the City of Springfield.

The new double-track bridges at Business Loop 55 will replace existing single-track bridges with inadequate vertical clearance.

In addition to rail safety improvements, the vehicle height restrictions on Business 55 through the city will be constructed at a higher elevation thus eliminating this dangerous condition. The estimated cost for these bridges is $44 million, with $17.97 million coming from Rebuild Illinois, $22 million from a federal BUILD grant and $4.03 million from the City of Springfield. Completion of the bridges is scheduled for 2022.

The Laurel Street underpass is the second phase of the Ash Street and Laurel Street Grade Separation Project. The underpass consists of lowering Laurel Street between Sixth and Eleventh Streets and constructing new bridges, thus creating double tracks for the existing Norfolk Southern and proposed Union Pacific and Amtrak lines. This project includes grading, drainage and track work between South Grand Avenue and Sixth Street.

The cost for the Ash Street and Laurel Street Grade Separation Project is $48 million, with $12 million coming from Rebuild Illinois, $15 million from the Illinois Commerce Commission and $21 million from federal and other sources. Completion of the Laurel Street Underpass is scheduled for 2020.