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| Durbin Announces Galesburg RR Overpass Funding |
Illinois' Senior U-S Senator says he was pretty well convinced that rail crossing grade separations were needed in the city, when he got stopped at a crossing himself.
Senator Dick Durbin was in Galesburg Thursday afternoon -- where, following a lunch with leaders from both the Galesburg and Monmouth areas, he announced a commitment in the federal transportation bill of nearly $3 million that will help build the first of the three rail crossing grade separations the city has planned.
Durbin said he came to the realization that they were needed when he came to town last year to meet with Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials at the Galesburg yard and State Representative Don Moffitt.
"Before you knew it, we were stuck by a stalled freight train," Durbin said. "I was in the car, captive of State Representative Moffitt, who said 'That's exactly why we need your help.' I understood. This has been not only a great city in Illinois history, but a great railroad city."
Durbin described the project as important for the region, not just for the city.
State officials through the yet-to-be-fully-funded capital construction bill have also committed money to the crossings at West Main, East Main, and North Seminary Streets.
Preliminary construction work on the West Main project is expected to start in the fall.
(Senator Dick Durbin meets with Galesburg and Monmouth city leaders at a luncheon Thursday at the Kensington.)
(Senator Dick Durbin speaks during a press conference Thursday at the Kensington, with Mayor Sal Garza and State Rep. Don Moffitt listening.)
(A City of Galesburg aerial photo of the East Main Street crossing currently.)
(A City of Galesburg rendering of what the East Main Street crossing would look like with a grade separation. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 01 07 10 by Newsroom |
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