CREATE EW2

CREATE EW2 is a critical corridor improvement project within the 75th Street Corridor, the largest project under the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, which aims to “untangle” passenger and freight rail infrastructure so that trains, pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles can more easily move through the community. The EW2 section is over six miles long and aims to intersect and interconnect Norfolk Southern with the Union Pacific Railroad, Belt Railway Company of Chicago, Metra and CSX Transportation with trackage rights for five additional railroads. The project entailed numerous track additions and realignments and as many as 22 bridge repairs or replacements.

Benesch was selected as the Lead Engineer on the project to provide program administration services; oversight and coordination of designs with various Engineering Service Providers (ESPs); track design; and stakeholder collaboration to develop a plan to execute the design and construction of these major improvements while maintaining rail service for all affected railroads.