Construction Disrupts Railroad Quiet Zone in West Chicago

The City of West Chicago is notifying its residents of the potential use of train horns throughout the duration of a construction project located within a Quiet Zone for the Canadian National Railroad at George Street near Community High School.

Construction has begun on the George Street Pedestrian Underpass. Federal regulations require train crews to sound horns when they observe anything within the railroad right-of-way that may pose a risk to themselves or to the train, regardless of the proximity to a crossing. The recent use of train horns is a result of crews moving electric transmission lines at George Street in preparation for the excavation of the underpass.

The CN/Wisconsin Central railroad tracks run north to south and bisect the residential neighborhood on the west side of Community High School. Along with modifications to the vehicular crossing at Ann Street one block to the south, the underpass is a component of the Quiet Zone and will provide safe pedestrian passage across the railroad tracks for both residents and students.

Most of the construction is expected to occur during daylight hours; however, construction and progress on the underpass is directly dependent on the weather and on the ability of the CN to take the tracks out of service. Therefore, construction may also occur during night time hours. The projected completion date is December 31, 2014.

Residents can call the West Chicago Public Works Department at (630) 293-2255 to report hearing train horns. After hours, residents are asked to leave their name, address, phone number and time(s) that they heard the train horns as this information will be reported to the CN for further investigation.