Upgrades Coming To Plainfield At-Grade Crossings Thanks To Grants

PLAINFIELD, IL — Three at-grade crossings in Plainfield will undergo renovations thanks to just over $1 million in grants, officials announced.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Village of Plainfield accepted and signed agreements for the Section 130 grants, which are funds allocated to eliminate hazards at highway-rail grade crossings.

In Plainfield, the money will be used to install pedestrian gates and sidewalks at Canadian National Railway crossings over Lockport Street, Eastern Avenue and Center Street. Grants, each varying from $360,000 to $380,000, varying based on the scope of work, were secured for all three intersections, according to Randall Jessen, the village's superintendent of public improvements.

Pedestrian crossings will be installed on both sides of Center Street, where there is no crossing currently, and Eastern Avenue. Lockport Street will only gain one crossing due to it being a multi-use path, Jessen told Patch.

Additional improvements include upgraded flashing light circuitry at the Center Street and Eastern Avenue intersections and a reconstruction of the multi-use path at CN's crossing at Lockport Street.

"Given the growth in the Village and the increase in pedestrian interactions with the CN tracks, Plainfield is very appreciative of this partnership with IDOT and CN to help further enhance safety in town," Mayor John Argoudelis said in a statement.

Improvements at the crossings are expected to be completed in 2024.

Village officials thanked Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee's Surface Transportation Subcommittee, for programs that offer 100 percent federal funding through IDOT.

"I’m pleased to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work right here in Illinois," Duckworth said in a statement. "I was proud to help pass this historic law and I’m glad to see Plainfield using the investments in it to make these important rail crossing safety improvements. I’ll keep working to make sure Illinois has the support it needs to make these necessary infrastructure improvements."

Officials also credited Senator Durbin and Representative Lauren Underwood "for their strong support of these vital improvements to local infrastructure and public safety at rail crossings."