(CSX issued the following news release on July 26.)
BLUE ISLAND, Ill. — CSX Transportation (CSXT), the rail unit of CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX), has completed a $21.7 million track and crossing improvement project to enhance the safety, capacity, and speed of freight rail traffic in the region.
The two-year project included the rebuilding of Chatham, Western, and Broadway Avenue crossings at an area where eight rail lines come together, known as Blue Island Junction, a major intersection of CSXT, the Indiana Harbor Belt, and Canadian National railroads.
In addition, a new mile of main-line track from CSXT’s Barr Yard in Riverdale, Ill., to Broadway Avenue was constructed to increase the efficiency of freight rail movement to and from the terminal. Several older interlockings were replaced with modern equipment and five new switches were installed to allow trains to travel through the junction at higher speeds — up to 30 miles per hour.
“CSXT has initiated a project which will allow trains to move through the junction more quickly, which will improve rail efficiency in the area,” said Pete Sitavich, CSXT’s Blue Island Project manager.
CSXT worked with the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO), an operating center including senior staff from most of the nation’s large railroads, to reduce scheduling conflicts for trains in the Blue Island area.
“We were very grateful to the citizens and leadership of Blue Island who worked with us on this successful project,” said Pete Burrus, CSXT Chicago Division Manager. “Mayor Don Peloquin and fire and police officials assisted with a number of operational issues during the bulk of construction in order to expedite use of these improvements.”