Forest Hill Flyover Completion Marks Major Milestone for CREATE Program

CHICAGO, IL—The Forest Hill Flyover (P3), the largest project completed to date under the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, has officially entered service, marking a major step forward for rail mobility across the Chicago region. The project addresses one of the area’s most notorious rail chokepoints by separating freight and commuter operations, improving system efficiency and easing congestion for nearby residents.

Led by CSX, the Forest Hill Flyover project replaces a long-standing tangle of intersecting freight and commuter lines where multiple railroads—including CSX, Norfolk Southern, the Belt Railway Company of Chicago and Metra’s SouthWest Service—converged at ground level. The new three-mile rail bridge carries north-south rail traffic over the east-west tracks, reducing daily conflicts and allowing trains to move more efficiently through this key junction.

Benesch supported the effort as part of the Construction Management team, serving as a subconsultant to GFT. The team oversaw construction activities that required significant coordination and complex staging within one of the country’s busiest rail hubs.

The completion of the Forest Hill Flyover accelerates progress on the broader 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, a four-project package that constitutes the most complex segment of the CREATE Program. Construction is currently underway on the 71st Street Grade Separation, which will eliminate another significant conflict point and further improve mobility for both rail and roadway users.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on November 14 to celebrate the opening of the Forest Hill Flyover and recognize the many partners involved in bringing this transformative project to completion.