BNSF Raceway Brookfield IL - New Signals and Crossovers?

[pabloss1]

This summer BNSF has been installing new signal bridges and now they are installing crossovers between Prairie and Maple Avenues in Brookfield, IL. Does anyone know what BNSF is doing this for? Is this for Metra? Are they expecting traffic changes? Is BNSF making changes to this mainline in other locations in the Chicago area? Thanks for any information regarding this.

[eolafan]

Not sure about Brookfield, but I know he McClure Road grade crossing(on West end of Eola yard in Aurora) which was rumored to be closed during this year is now being totally rebuilt. This work is going on right now and is really facinating to see as they have three mains and two yard leads to deal with, all with lots of traffic on an ongoing basis. They can only work on one track at a time, must be a real challenge for the MOW crews doing the work.

[Anonymous]

I've seen new signal bridges in a number of places. Berwyn, Lisle, and around the new Rt.59 station are a few I know of. An extra set of cross-overs was added west of Lisle a few years ago. Not sure if this is because of Metra schedule changes or because they've been holding Intermodal trains on this stretch of line that has no grade crossings from Naperville to Belmont Rd. in Downers Grove and they need to get traffic around them. I've also noticed a lot more eastbound traffic running on the westbound track. They've always been able to do that, but lately I've seen Intermodals go in wrong main right before the evening rush! Do the UPS Z-trains on this line come from/go to Willow Springs via Congress Park or are they coming from Clyde?? Maybe that has something to do with it.

I've also noticed new microwave communications towers next to many signal bridges. Not sure if this is for signaling(is that allowed??) or for something else. I also saw a yellow sign at the Oak Park Ave. crossing in Berwyn warning about Remote Control Locomotive operation.

Eolafan - Is the old truss-bridge turntable still there?? Last time I visited it was all fenced off as if they were going to tear it out?