Route 31 Underpass Shutdown Extended Through August

GENEVA, IL — The Route 31 underpass closure in Geneva will last longer than originally expected, city officials said Thursday.

The closure, which began March 4, has been extended until at least Aug. 5. The underpass was originally expected to remain closed for about four months, Patch reported.

The closure is the second of two to make way for Union Pacific to build a third railroad line near the current UP-West railway tracks spanning from Peck Road in Geneva to West Chicago. The project began in 2022 and is expected to be completed in late 2024 or 2025.

Officials said the new anticipated opening date for the Route 31 is subject to change. The delay stems from conflicts with utility relocations needed for the project, according to a news release.

Since the project is taking longer than originally expected, the timeline for future Third Street and Western Avenue grade crossing closures has also been altered, officials said.

Work on the Third Street crossing was initially scheduled for late June and on Western Avenue in mid-September. Union Pacific expects work on the former to start in late summer or early fall. The new start date for the latter will be announced in the future, city officials said.