Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) joined federal, state and local officials this morning in celebrating the opening of the long-awaited $142 million Englewood Flyover.  The flyover is a bridge that carries Metra’s Rock Island line over the Norfolk Southern/Amtrak tracks near 63rd Street and State Street in Chicago.  Rock Island line passengers - including those boarding Metra trains in Tinley Park, Beverly, and Morgan Park - will see fewer delays as a result of this project.                              

“The completion of the Englewood Flyover means improvement in the quality of life for area residents,” said Rep. Lipinski (IL-3).  “The benefits include fewer delays for Metra and Amtrak users, fewer delays for area drivers, better air quality, a reduction in noise from idling trains, and an overall improvement in safety.”

The flyover is an integral part of the CREATE rail modernization project, a partnership between the federal government, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Chicago Department of Transportation, Metra, and the Association of American Railroads to reduce congestion with track, switch, and signal upgrades, as well as new overpasses and underpasses.  Congressman Lipinski obtained the initial $100 million for CREATE back in 2005, and helped to secure and preserve the funding for the flyover.

“Completing the flyover is another step towards untangling the region’s congested freight and commuter rail system,” Rep. Lipinski said.  “I am committed to seeing the rest of the much-needed CREATE projects through to completion.” 

The Englewood Flyover transports 78 weekday Rock Island Line trains over the tracks used by about 60 freight trains and 14 Amtrak trains a day.