A railroad crossing that once brought traffic to a standstill for hours each week is now a thing of the past.
City and state officials, business leaders and representatives from the construction and railroad industries gathered Thursday morning to officially mark the completion of the City of Decatur’s two-year, $93 million Brush College/Faries Parkway Overpass project.
The project creates a grade separation that carries Brush College Road over Faries Parkway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, eliminating what had been Decatur’s most frequently blocked railroad crossing.
The completed overpass and jughandle connector are expected to immediately improve traffic flow and safety for motorists, commercial vehicles and pedestrians traveling through one of the city’s busiest industrial areas.
For Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, the completion represents the culmination of years of work involving local, state and federal officials, along with businesses and community partners.
“This overpass was a long time coming and we are very pleased to finally complete the bridge,” Moore Wolfe said during Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I want to thank the many funding partners and those who lobbied with us in Springfield and Washington, D.C., the engineers and contractors, as well as the community for having patience.”
“This one is a big, big deal for Decatur and the region,” she added.
A problem decades in the making
The project addressed a significant transportation and economic-development challenge in an area where railroad traffic regularly intersected with passenger and commercial traffic.
Before construction began, the Brush College Road crossing was blocked by trains approximately 17 hours each week.
For area businesses, particularly those relying on truck traffic, those delays could add up quickly. Trucks were being delayed for a combined total of as much as 5.5 hours per day.
And the problem was expected to get worse.
In 2022, approximately 198 trains crossed the intersection each week, with some individual blockages lasting more than 30 minutes. Without improvements, officials projected the crossing could be blocked as much as 24 hours per week by 2035.
The new overpass removes the conflict entirely by separating road traffic from the railroad tracks.
That means vehicles no longer have to wait for trains to clear the crossing, while pedestrians and motorists are no longer required to navigate a busy at-grade railroad crossing.
Illinois Deputy Governor Andy Manar called the project an important investment in Decatur’s future.
“The Brush College/Faries Parkway Overpass Project finally resolves one of Decatur’s most frustrating rail crossings,” Manar said. “By separating Brush College Road from the Norfolk Southern line, it makes everyday travel safer and more reliable.”
Manar said the project also demonstrates what can be accomplished when local, state and federal partners work together on long-standing infrastructure needs.
“It also reflects Illinois’ commitment to investing in communities — showing what’s possible when state, federal, and local partners work together to solve long-standing challenges,” he said.
A major investment in infrastructure
The $93 million project was made possible through a combination of federal, state, local and private funding.
The largest contribution came through $44 million in federal freight funding, along with $16 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant program and another $2 million through the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program.
The Illinois Commerce Commission contributed nearly $20 million through Grade Crossing Protection Funds, along with another $6 million from its Transportation Bond Fund.
Additional funding included $2 million through Illinois Jobs Now, a $1.5 million state commitment, $1 million from Norfolk Southern Railway Company and approximately $1 million from the City of Decatur.
ADM also contributed through an in-kind land swap that helped provide the right-of-way necessary for the project.
Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said the benefits of the project will extend beyond Decatur.
“The new overpass and surrounding improvements will have an immediate positive impact on safety, mobility and quality of life in Decatur, but the effects will be felt across Illinois with freight moving more efficiently over roads and rail,” Biagi said.
Biagi also credited Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the numerous local, state and federal partners involved in the project.
“We are proud to have worked with our partners to deliver this project and many more like it throughout Illinois,” she said.
Federal investment pays off
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, who helped secure federal funding for the project, said the investment represents more than a transportation improvement.
“A little over three years ago, I was proud to join our Senators in announcing $16 million in federal infrastructure funding for this project — an investment that would better connect this community, improve rail safety, and ease commutes for working families,” Budzinski said.
Budzinski said the project has also created good-paying union construction jobs while demonstrating the impact of infrastructure investment.
“Since then, we’ve watched that investment deliver in a very real way: creating good-paying union jobs while showing what government can accomplish when we invest directly in our communities,” she said.
“Today, we get to celebrate the results and see that investment paying off.”
The federal funding was supported by Budzinski, along with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and former Congressman Rodney Davis.
City officials also recognized the work of former Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider, who now serves as the City’s transportation and infrastructure consultant, as well as former Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman.
Rail safety and economic impact
Illinois Commerce Commissioner Michael T. Carrigan said the project represents a major commitment to rail safety.
“This is a momentous day for Decatur,” Carrigan said. “The $26 million spent using Grade Crossing Protection Funds and Multi-Modal Bond Funds is a testament to the state’s commitment to making this project a reality and demonstrates how serious the ICC is about rail safety.”
Carrigan said separating vehicles and pedestrians from the railroad tracks will significantly reduce both the possibility of collisions and traffic delays.
The project is also expected to have a direct impact on one of Decatur’s largest employers.
ADM President of North America and Carbohydrate Solutions Chris Cuddy said the company has been part of the Decatur community since 1939 and now has more than 4,000 employees based in the city.
“Decatur represents ADM’s largest footprint and employee population,” Cuddy said.
Cuddy said the improved transportation infrastructure will benefit ADM employees as well as visitors, business partners and other residents.
“This new overpass will improve safety and traffic flow for our colleagues, visitors and business partners, as well as other Decatur residents,” he said.
Cuddy also credited the numerous organizations and individuals who helped bring the project to completion.
“Many people and organizations have had a hand in getting this project done, and ADM is proud to have played a role,” he said.
Years of work come together
Thursday’s ribbon cutting brought together representatives from nearly every part of the project, including local government, state transportation officials, federal representatives, business leaders, labor and the construction industry.
Speakers included Moore Wolfe, Manar, Biagi, Carrigan and Cuddy, along with Decatur Building Trades & Construction Council President Josh Prasun, William Charles Construction President Joe Weishaar and Norfolk Southern Regional Vice President of Government Relations Herbert Smith.
The project is being viewed by city officials as more than simply a new bridge.
It represents a long-term investment in Decatur’s transportation infrastructure, the city’s industrial base and the safety of people who travel through the area every day.
After years of planning, funding efforts and construction, the railroad crossing that once regularly stopped traffic is now separated from the roadway.
For Decatur, the message from Thursday’s ceremony was clear:
A major transportation problem has finally been replaced with a permanent solution — one officials believe will benefit the city and region for decades to come.
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