The City of Hammond is the recipient of a $7 million Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant that will support construction of a new railroad overpass and eliminate two conflict points where local roads intersect with railroad tracks. The funded infrastructure improvement effort, known as the Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project, is targeted at providing a safe, efficient crossing where train blockages most impact existing surface streets in Hammond.
“Railroad stoppages in Hammond have been a problem in our city for over a century and we are finally getting the opportunity to fix it once and for all,” said Mayor Tom McDermott. “I want to thank Secretary Buttigieg and the Department of Transportation as well as our state partners including Governor Holcomb and INDOT for making this funding available. This is a project that will improve quality of life and place for our community now and for future generations of Hammond residents.”
The Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project will focus primarily on the southeast area of Hammond, where stopped trains have had the greatest impact. Once completed, the overpass will be provide a bridge so travelers can bypass a busy railroad corridor that has been plagued by trains that stop for hours and sometimes days on end. The overpass is also slated to include a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, and the structure will also help fire and police response times in the Hessville section of the city.
Funding for the $7,029,392 grant was made possible through the U.S. Department of Transportation FRA Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program, the first dedicated grant program to help communities eliminate at-grade crossings, which have, according to the FRA, “blocked vehicle and pedestrian traffic, led to deadly vehicle-rail collisions, and prevented first responders from reaching emergencies.” These funds will be added to the funding already awarded to the City of Hammond through INDOT’s Local Trax program.
“My administration has been relentless in its pursuit of overcoming the ripple-effect of railroad congestion in our community,” said Mayor McDermott. “The Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project will provide a safe passage solution making Hammond safer and improving our community. “
Construction activities for the Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project are expected to commence in 2024.