The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced today that it is overseeing rebuilding the roadways, sidewalks, and drainage under more than a dozen railroad viaducts in neighborhoods across Chicago this summer.  This work is part of the Viaduct Improvements component of the ongoing the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program.

“These important infrastructure upgrades will improve the quality of life for residents in the neighborhoods who have had to deal with crumbling, pothole-filled roadways under railroad viaducts,” said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein.   “We are working to make these streets safer for both vehicles and pedestrians.”

To complete the project the City is using $5 million of a $100 million federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded to the CREATE Program through U.S. DOT's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.  The overall TIGER grant award to the CREATE Program is funding a total of five railroad-related improvement projects throughout the Chicago region. 

The scope of CDOT’s viaduct improvement project includes the removal of the old roadway, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, the necessary repair and replacement of any sewer lines and the complete reconstruction of the road.   The contractor is Acura, Inc. of Bensenville.  Crews are replacing a total of about 4,500 linear feet of roadway under the 14 viaducts, which are located in 13 different wards across the city:

• 1130 E. 79th St.
• 8125 S. Elliott Ave.
• 1530 S. Loomis St.
• 1530 S. Racine Ave.
• 4815 W. Wilson Ave.
• 730 E. 71st St.
• 400 W. 29th St.
• 3600 W. 60th St.
• 600 W. 64th St
• 7500 S. Morgan St.
• 7500 S. Peoria St.
• 2200 W. 83rd St.
• 600 W. Englewood Ave.
• 6400 S. Dorchester Ave.

Initiated in 2003, the CREATE Program is a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership to address freight, commuter, and intercity passenger rail congestion in the Chicago area. The CREATE Partners include the U.S. Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Department of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads (AAR), representing BNSF, CN, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, the switching railroads Belt Railway Company of Chicago and Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, as well as Amtrak and Metra.

The program includes 70 critically needed rail and highway infrastructure improvements in Northeastern Illinois, aimed at reducing congestion and improving the quality of life of area residents and increasing the efficiency of freight and passenger rail service throughout the region and across the United States.

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