Get Ready For A 10-Day Closure Of The Southwest Highway and Kilbourn Rail Crossing

OAK LAWN, IL – If you use the rail crossing at Southwest Highway and Kilbourn Avenue as a shortcut to avoid the 95th Street and Cicero intersection, better start figuring out an alternative route. Metra is planning to replace the railroad crossing starting next month. The crossing will be closed to all traffic Wednesday, May 14 and will reopen Friday, May 23.

A Metra representative will share further details at Tuesday’s village board meeting on April 22.

Signs will soon be posted soon informing motorists and residents of the closure, and the recommended detour route. The nearest and recommended alternative route to cross the tracks will be Cicero Avnue, which can be accessed via Southwest Highway on the north side of the tracks and 95th Street on the south side.

Crossing replacement projects are part of the regularly scheduled maintenance of a
railroad’s assets and ensure the continued safety of railroad operations. The projects
generally include the removal and replacement of rails, ties, and ballast, as well as the
installation of new signal cable. When the project is finished, motorists will also notice a
smoother ride due to new concrete panels between the rails and new asphalt approaches.

Metra and its partner railroads plan to replace 43 crossings at locations across the Chicago area in 2025.