CSX, CREATE program launch first train over Forest Hill Flyover
CSX and the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program on Oct. 15 marked the first train crossing over the new Forest Hill Flyover, a CSX bridge above a critical intersection that will help improve freight- and passenger-rail service in the area.
By separating CSX tracks from those of Belt Railway Co. of Chicago, Metra and Norfolk Southern Railway, the project eliminates a long-standing bottleneck where 30 SouthWest Service Metra trains and 35 freight trains intersect daily along the Western Avenue Corridor in Chicago.
The new separation reduces congestion, minimizes delays and improves service across the region, CSX officials said in a press release.
Part of the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, the Forest Hill Flyover is the result of a collaboration between public and private partners. The placement of the final girder in July and the first train movement last week signifies a new era for Chicago’s rail infrastructure, according to CSX.
In the coming weeks, CSX and CREATE program officials will host a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the flyover.