Relief in sight for Randall Road drivers in Kane County frustrated by freight trains
Things are looking up for motorists who suffer multiple daily delays waiting for slow-moving freight trains to cross Randall Road on the border of Elgin and South Elgin.
Kane County officials have announced the county has been awarded $25 million in federal funding for a new overpass that will allow drivers to travel over the Canadian National railroad tracks.
Officials say the rail safety project project will eliminate the last at-grade rail crossing along the 36 miles of the Randall Road corridor.
Design engineering has started on the plan to build the bypass over the tracks that run along the border of Elgin and South Elgin. The crossing is south of Hopps Road and north of Gyorr Avenue.
The project is budgeted to cost $61.8 million, with work to begin in 2026. Construction is expected to take two years to complete.
"This significant investment will not only modernize the safety and effectiveness of our transportation systems but will also be vital in enhancing the quality of life for all Kane County residents," Kane County Board Chairman Corinne Pierog said in a news release.
The Kane County Department of Transportation project will also add a third north-south lane in both directions to sections of the road to ease traffic flow and reduce delays on the busy thoroughfare, which sees 40,000 vehicles per day.
The improvements at the rail crossing and nearby intersection are designed to reduce congestion, provide greater access to responding emergency vehicles and significantly reduce the occurrences of crashes.
“About five years ago, I witnessed a devastating, fatal accident at this intersection,” South Elgin Village President Steve Ward said in the release. “I think of the victim and her family’s heartbreak often. This investment will provide a meaningful safety improvement for motorists for years to come.”
The project also includes the construction of a path for people walking or biking along Randall Road.
The federal funding was made available through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program, which is expected to provide $8 billion to communities over the next five years.