(The following story by Shamus Toomey was published in the January 25 online edition of the Chicago Daily Herald.)
CHICAGO — Union Pacific Railroad asked a federal judge Friday to block the city of Des Plaines from demanding railroad money be spent to replace a decaying, 73-year-old bridge over Northwest Highway.
The railroad sued Des Plaines in federal court Friday in an effort to preempt any city plans to ask the Illinois Commerce Commission to compel the railroad to build two new bridges at the infamous S-curve west of downtown.
The bridge there has rained debris on cars for years, breaking windshields and littering the street with chunks of wood and iron. The estimated cost of straightening the road and building two new bridges at the double-rail crossing is $22 million. Union Pacific contends the bridge can last another 20 years.
Des Plaines attorney Dave Wiltse could not comment whether the city would ask the ICC to force Union Pacific and Wisconsin Central Railroad to fund part of the new construction. The city is still mulling its options following a bridge-related victory from an ICC hearing officer earlier this week, he said.
In that decision, hearing officer June Tate recommended the ICC force the two railroads to install additional wooden supports and to inspect the bridge twice a week for the remainder of its life. The railroads would be forced to pay for the work if the ICC adopts the recommendation. Wiltse said he was pleased with Tate’s decision, which the city learned about Friday.