Motorists can expect fewer delays and a safer commute thanks to the completion of the Route 34 Overpass on Aurora’s Far East Side.

City of Aurora officials, regional and state transportation leaders and elected officials cut the ribbon on the new overpass this week in a ceremony held at the neighboring Village Baptist Church.

The overpass separates vehicle traffic from trains on the Canadian National railway, and includes two lanes of traffic in either direction, plus retaining and noise abatement walls, and bicycle and pedestrian routes on either side of the bridge.

“It significantly reduces impacts with potential traffic accidents with trains,” said Jose Rios, Program Development Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. “Today, this locations experiences 42 trains per day going through this crossing with an average daily traffic 31,200 vehicles traveling along U.S. 34, an incredible number.”

According to IDOT officials, the overpass is expected to save commuters a combined 73 hours per day of time that would otherwise be lost to idling in traffic waiting for trains.

“This is yet another project that would not have succeeded without tremendous cooperation among a lot of different agencies, companies, and involved individuals,” Mayor Robert J. O’Connor said. “It has been such a success to have such cooperation among all levels of government within the community.”

Roughly two-thirds of the $46 million project was funded by Canadian National, following a Surface Transportation Board environmental impact study on rail traffic up and down the rail corridor.

“There was such an outcry up and down the Canadian National rail line that the federal government could not help but to listen and to listen carefully,” former Mayor Tom Weisner said. “When we collaborate, we tend to succeed.”

The remainder of the project was funded by IDOT, with approximately $300,000 paid for by the city of Aurora.

“I’d like to thank everyone from the residents,” said Ward 8 Alderman Rick Mervine. “They were concerned about how they were going to be able to move back and forth in their own community. They were concerned whether an ambulance, a fire engine or a police car was going to be able to get to them. We now have the ability to be able to move freely in our own community.”

Also in attendance to celebrate the conclusion of the project were IDOT officials, former Mayor Tom Weisner, Ward 9 Alderman Edward Bugg, DuPage County Board Members Janice Anderson and James Healy, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, state Sen. Linda Holmes and United States Congressman Bill Foster.

“This is government working as it should, coming together at all levels,” Foster said.  “We had a project of national importance, important to the commerce of our whole country, and it had a huge local impact. Bridging all those levels were all the units of government that came together to do something sensible here.  That’s what we’re celebrating today.”

Watch the full presentation for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Facebook.

Officials celebrate the opening of the Route 34 Overpass (L to R): Congressman Bill Foster, Senator Linda Holmes, State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, Mayor Robert J. O’Connor, former Mayor Tom Weisner, 8th Ward Alderman Rick Mervine and IDOT Project Engineer Jose Rios. (CREDIT: city of Aurora)

Read More

• First Phase of Route 34 Bridge Open For Traffic
• Eola Road Widening Starts April 20 — One of Many Road Projects on Aurora’s East Side
• Progress 2015: Aurora Building Bridges, Infrastructure and Its Future

About the City of Aurora

Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 200,456.  Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights.  Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties.  Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships.  For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.