The neighbors, the Alderfrau, concerned the security of the Chicago Railway overpass in the southwest side of the Chicago

The leaders of the southwestern team in Chicago talked about security concerns on a viaduct at a busy intersection on Wednesday evening.

You say it is always hit by cars – with more than 100 accidents in the past three years.

In McKinley Park along the Pershing Road between the Western Avenue and the Western Boulevard, which are separate roads, shared by a green strip – parts of the driver and pedestrian what they present from the busy intersection with a transferring freight track overflow.

“I think confusion is the first,” said Blanca Hernandez, who lives nearby. “There are a few different alleys in every direction and several pillars that are somehow in the way.”

The columns hold up the railway overpass, which increases diagonally over the intersections. The condition of some columns is the subject of growing concern.

“Who is responsible for checking that?” Hernandez said.

Ald. Julia Ramirez (12th) wants to answer the same question.

“I think there must be an evaluation of the many pillars,” she said.

But although the rusty, deteriorating state of some columns does not look good, it is not what many pedestrians leave restless while walking under the rail.

“As you can see, there were several crashes against this pillar,” said Ald. Ramirez, which indicates a pillar that was bent and mutilated.

Ald. Ramirez wrote a letter to the Norfolk Southern Railway and called for measures for the way the transfer looks. Ramirez wrote that “the columns are in a state of decay and do not look structurally solid”.

“And that's why I think we need all hands on deck,” said the builder.

The builder also checked the Chicago Ministry of Transport and found that since 2022 – we speak for three years – there was 100 accidents below the railway overpass. Many of these crashes are popped directly into the pillars – and the stability further questioned

“If we do nothing about it, with the price we go – 100 crashes within three years – God keep that we get into a situation without having done anything beforehand,” said Ramirez.

Norfolk Southern said in an explanation: “Norfolk Southern is committed to the security of our business and our infrastructure, including our bridges, and we inspect all of our bridges according to the Bridge Safety standards of the Federal Railroad Administration and our own bridge management program.”

Norfolk Southern said that it reacts to all public notifications, including this, with an additional inspection. The railroad added that many of the tracks above the viaduct are not active and do not bear the weight of train traffic.

Norfolk Southern also found that there are more than 1 billion US dollars annually for improvements in the infrastructure such as the maintenance of rail bridges and inspects and maintains its infrastructure for the security of the public, their employees and their business.

Typically lighting under a bridge, the Ald. Ramirez also mentions in her letter, is not in possession, is operated by the railroad or maintained.

The residents are pleased that someone looks at the problems with the viaduct.

“It is aware of this and hopefully the public can gather behind it,” said Hernandez.