Third Street Train Crossing To Close For Next Stage Of Union Pacific Project

GENEVA, IL — The Third Street train track crossing is expected to close Monday as the next part of Union Pacific's Third Main Line project, city officials said.

The Route 31 underpass is scheduled to open Friday after being shut down since March, and operations will then shift west to the railroad crossing for about six weeks. The timeline is subject to change due to weather and construction delays, officials said.

The detour for the new closure will direct drivers to use Route 31 to head north to State Street and west to Third Street. The route is reversed for drivers needing to bypass the tracks to travel southbound.

Third Street north of the train tracks as well as the Third Street Commuter Parking Deck will remain open to downtown visitors and local traffic during the train track crossing work. Officials said pedestrians will be able to cross the tracks through the construction zone, but Union Pacific has not finalized the route.

Another future closure required by the project will be a temporary shutdown of the Western Avenue railroad crossing, tentatively slated to begin in early October once construction is complete at the Third Street crossing.

The contractor will also be working on Saturdays for the remainder of the Third Main Line project to make up for lost time, officials said. Union Pacific hopes to reopen the Third Street commuter parking lots south of the tracks in December.

Construction on the project to build a third railroad line spanning from Peck Road in Geneva to West Chicago is expected to be completed in spring 2025.