Updated: 11:25 a.m. with new information from Metra
The Fairview Avenue grade crossing will be closed through June 5 for emergency repairs, according to the Metra website.
A Metra spokesman told the DGreport the Illinois Commerce Commission ordered the Burlington Northern to make the repairs after being alerted to the site’s rough crossing. “The train tracks had settled below the grade of road and cars were experiencing a very rough crossing,” he said.
alerted to it.
The closure will “severely impact access to the south commuter parking lot in the afternoon when passengers unload on the north platform,” Metra said. “It is strongly recommended that you board your train from an alternate station during this project. ”
Passengers are encouraged to use the Main Street Station or the Westmont station at 1 W. Quincy St., near the intersection of Quincy and Cass Avenue.
“Maple Avenue is located west of the Fairview Avenue station and is the only designated crossing to access the south parking lot during your afternoon commute,” Metra said. “For your safety, do not enter the construction zone or cross the tracks at an unauthorized location.”
It’s official! You can’t get there from here!
With their sirens screaming you can hear them a good mile away. They come from Downers Grove, Westmont, Lemont, Bolingbrook, and other fire districts south of the tracks Rushing ambulances headed for Good Sam Hospital. As the clock quickly ticks away at that critical golden hour, emergency vehicles often are seen stopped waiting for not just one, but for two or three trains to pass. My office is on Main by the tracks; I see and hear it all day long.
Train traffic is increasing and is expected to increase by about 30 % in the next 20 years. Trains will be longer and closer together. It will happen!!!
Years ago DuPage County developed plans to raise the track bed at Forest, Main and Washington creating grade separation without changing the grade at street level. That plan needs to be revisited.
I worked with the Village for 10 years to plan for, and then build an underpass at Belmont. That was a different time and different crossing, but we took that first step and soon we will have a Belmont underpass.
When will the Village take that essential second first step?
You are of course forgetting the construction on the street behind the Tivoli Theater that is ongoing that has been screwing up traffic on Washington.
And a few more things while I am signed on here.
1. Didn’t they just fix that road (I believe it is Rogers) just last year when they were putting in new pipes?? Why are they tearing it up again this year?? Couldn’t they have just done ALL of this work last year and not tore up a BRAND NEW ROAD???? How much money was wasted tearing up a new road??
2. Did I read right today. The fire department wants a $900,000.00 fire truck?? Is this something that has been talked about for a while or is this something new?? How often will this be used? Do we have one already? With the huge budget issues we all have seen, is this the year for a new truck?? How many other towns in the area have these?
Dilbert… yes the Fire Department wants to purchase a new truck TO REPLACE the one they already have. And the money for this does not come out of the budget, they have (and always have had) a special fund for this type of purchase. They want to replace an old truck that costs about $45,ooo/year to maintain, with a new one with about a $2,000/year maintenance cost…. how is that not responsible!?! The truck they use now is out of service almost as much as it is in service… What happens if YOUR house catches on fire on a day when it’s OUT of service???
So the Fairview crossing was closed for a week; we put up with it in hopes that it would finally be made smoother. Guess what? It is as bad as it was before the closing. What was done?
I’m with you on that John.
Maybe we should ask the alcohol in a paper bag appreciation under the shady trees near the tracks club that lingers there most days what was done.