Metra has begun a major project to replace railroad tracks and ties that will force the suspension of midday service for months on the Milwaukee District North Line in parts of Lake County.
Metra said it will be replacing nearly 4.5 miles of rail and thousands of railroad ties between Fox Lake and Lake Forest.
The project will force the suspension of midday service on parts of Metra’s Milwaukee District North Line starting Monday.
“Tie and rail replacement is essential maintenance on the railroad, but this project is complicated due to a long section of single track that makes it impossible for work equipment and passenger rail service to operate simultaneously,” Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski said.
“While suspending midday service along portions of the line will temporarily inconvenience our customers, this project will allow Metra to work more efficiently and help us meet our standards for providing customers with a smooth, safe, and reliable ride,” Derwinski said.
The project, which will replace 18,500 railroad ties and nearly 24,000 feet of rail, is expected to take nearly three months to complete.
It will not be possible to provide train service in an active construction zone because the majority of work will occur along the 17-mile single-track section of the line between Rondout and Fox Lake, Metra said.
Midday service will be suspended along the line in three phases to minimize the disruption to riders.
Passengers who normally visit the affected stations will need to use Metra stations on other lines or seek alternate transportation to the nearest open station during midday, Metra said.
Phase 1 of the project involves midday service originating and terminating in Lake Forest on weekdays from August 3 to August 14.
Midday service will also originate and terminate in Lake Forest on the weekends from August 8 to August 15.
Phase 2 of the project involves midday service originating and terminating in Libertyville on weekdays from August 17 to September 9.
Phase 3 of the project involves midday service originating and terminating in Grayslake on weekdays from September 11 to October 23.
The full weekday construction schedule can be found on Metra’s website.