CREATE P1 – Englewood Flyover Project Receives AREMA’s 2016 Dr. W.W. Hay Award of Excellence

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) has recognized the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) P1 – Englewood Flyover project with its 2016 Dr. W.W. Hay Award of Excellence. The Hay Award, AREMA’s highest honor, recognizes innovative railway engineering procedures, projects and products. TranSystems served as the lead designer on the project.

The CREATE P1 - Englewood Flyover is the first major project to be constructed for the CREATE program, which was initiated to reduce the rail congestion that plagues Chicago. Before construction, the Englewood Interlocking railroad crossing handled 80 Metra trains crossing 46 Norfolk Southern freight trains and 14 Amtrak passenger trains each day. By constructing a 2,100-foot long triple track flyover bridge, the Interlocking crossing was eliminated alleviating congestion, expediting rail traffic flow, and improving safety and air quality.
 
“TranSystems has a long history of railroad engineering and flyover design experience,” Principal Chuck Stenzel said. “We’re proud to be a part of this award-winning project easing rail congestion in Chicago.”
 
The $133 million project was completed on schedule and under budget, meeting the requirements of the federal High-Speed Rail grant. The construction of the complex railroad bridge project was completed without additional right of way, a rarity in an urban setting.