IDOT Awarded $209,877,984 MEGA Grant for CREATE Project EW2A
The Illinois Department of Transportation received a $209,877,984 MEGA grant for Chicago-area track, bridge, and signal improvements under CREATE Project EW2A.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $209,877,984 to the Illinois Department of Transportation under the MEGA program for the FY2025-2026 cycle. The funding supports CREATE Project EW2A, which encompasses improvements along a 3-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago's South Side. Project work includes track rehabilitation, bridge replacement or restoration across 14 structures, and signal reconfigurations at Belt Junction, alongside the addition of a third track to the NS line. The project also receives INFRA funding, bringing the full MPDG award amount to $291,179,049.
Source award
Illinois Department of Transportation — $209,877,984 from MEGA, FY2026. Source
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