Chicago's first significant track elevation project was on the Illinois Central, from 51st St. to 67th St., in the Hyde Park area which was the site of the 1893 World's Fair. And throughout the 1890's and into the early 1900's, city ordinances were passed covering many other railroads.
Ordinances are listed in chronological order. Completion deadlines are indicated, dates of actually completion are usually not available. But in many cases, if a project fell behind schedule, the ordinance would be amended to extend the deadline for completion.
Numerous additional ordinances were passed, primarily for changing certain specifications of the projects. These ordinances are not listed. The overall ordinances were quite detailed, including the specifications of each underpass.
Where railroads crossed, the decisions to construct overpasses or underpasses were generally made strictly by the railroads, and were not part of city ordinances. Although for some projects, the city ordinances provided for the possibilities that the railroads might decide to construct grade separations.
May 23, 1892
Ordinance for elevation of Illinois Central from 51st St. to 67th St., in preparation of 1893 World's Fair. Deadline for completion May 1, 1893.
December 28, 1892
Ordinance for underpass on Chicago & North Western Galena Division at Sacramento Ave.
February 23, 1893
General ordinance for elimination of all grade crossings within Chicago.
March 6, 1893
Ordinance for underpass on Illinois Central at 93rd St., for Calumet Electric Street Railway. Deadline for completion September 6, 1893.
July 9, 1894
Ordinance for elevation of joint Rock Island and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern (LS&MS) line from Archer Ave. to 69th St. on Rock Island, and to State St. on LS&MS. Deadline for completion August 1, 1899. Ordinance amended January 18, 1897, extending limits on LS&MS and paralleling Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago from State St. to South Park Ave. (now King Dr.). Deadline for completion of additional work August 1, 1901. Ordinance amended January 17, 1898, extending limits on Rock Island from 69th St. to 76th St. Deadline for completion of additional work August 1, 1901. Ordinance amended February 11, 1901, extending limits from Harrison St. to Polk St. Deadline for completion of additional work December 1, 1905. Ordinance also amended February 11, 1901, extending limits on LS&MS and paralleling Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago from South Park Ave. (now King Dr.) to 73rd St. Deadline not established for completion of additional work, contingent upon agreement with Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago and Illinois Central regarding track elevation in Grand Crossing area. Ordinance amended March 16, 1903, providing for Chicago Junction Railway overpass at 40th St.
February 18, 1895
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & North Western Galena Division from Sacramento Ave. to 40th Ave. (now Pulaski Rd.). Deadline for completion May 1, 1897.
October 21, 1895
Ordinance for depression of Illinois Central from Randolph St. Station to Central Station, in preparation of landfill to the east.
March 30, 1896
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & North Western Milwaukee Division from Diversey Ave. to Balmoral Ave., and elevation of Chicago & North Western Wisconsin Division from Wood St. to 44th Ave. (now Kostner Ave.). Deadline for completion May 1, 1904.
July 27, 1896
Ordinance for elevation of Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago from Garfield Blvd. to State St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1898. Ordinance amended January 18, 1897, extending limits on Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago and paralleling Lake Shore & Michigan Southern from State St. to South Park Ave. (now King Dr.). Deadline for completion of additional work August 1, 1901. Ordinance amended February 11, 1901, extending limits on Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago and paralleling Lake Shore & Michigan Southern from from South Park Ave. (now King Dr.) to 73rd St. Deadline not established for completion of additional work, contingent upon agreement with Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Illinois Central regarding track elevation in Grand Crossing area.
January 18, 1897
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad Altenheim Line from 12th St. (Roosevelt Rd.) to Washtenaw Ave., and elevation of paralleling Chicago & North Western Rockwell Line and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis from Fulton St. to 12th St. (Roosevelt Rd.). Ordinance also for raising of Lake Street Elevated Railroad and Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway bridges at Rockwell St. over these railroads. Deadline for completion December 31, 1898.
February 15, 1897
Ordinance for depression of Chicago Junction Railway underneath joint Rock Island and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern line at 40th St.
May 17, 1897
Ordinance for elevation of St. Charles Air Line from Indiana Ave. to Chicago River, for elevation of joint Rock Island and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern line from 16th St. to Archer Ave., and for depression of paralleling Chicago & Western Indiana and Santa Fe underneath the other railroads and Clark St. Ordinance also for raising of South Side Elevated Railroad bridge at 16th St. over St. Charles Air Line. Deadline for completion 2 years after raising of South Side Elevated Railroad bridge.
December 29, 1897
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & North Western from Sangamon St. to Diversey Ave. via Milwaukee Division, and to Wood St. via Wisconsin Division, and elevation of Milwaukee Road Bloomingdale Line from Elston Ave. to Ashland Ave. Deadline for completion May 1, 1900.
January 24, 1898
Ordinance for elevation of Burlington Route from Washtenaw Ave. to 44th Ave. (now Kostner Ave.). Deadline for completion December 31, 1902.
February 21, 1898
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Milwaukee Division from Spaulding Ave. to Irving Park Rd., for elevation of Milwaukee Road Council Bluffs Division from Lawndale Ave. to 40th Ave. (now Pulaski Rd.), and elevation of Chicago & North Western Mayfair Cutoff from Milwaukee Ave. to Irving Park Rd. Deadline for completion May 1, 1900.
April 6, 1898
Ordinance for elevation of Belt Railway of Chicago from Kinzie St. to Adams St.
1899
Opening of Illinois Central (Chicago Madison & Northern) bridge over Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal. This project may also have included track elevation over Kedzie Ave., no ordinance could be found for this track elevation.
March 6, 1899
Ordinance for elevation of Santa Fe from California Ave. to Kedzie Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1899.
May 22, 1899
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Illinois Central (Chicago Madison & Northern) and Santa Fe from 22nd St. (Cermak Rd.) to Ash Street, and elevation of paralleling Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis and Chicago Junction Railway from 34th St. to Western Blvd. (near Pershing Rd.) Deadline for completion December 31, 1902. Ordinance amended June 26, 1899, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1903. Ordinance amended December 21, 1903, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1904.
October 23, 1899
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & Western Indiana from 22nd St. to 70th St., and elevation of Grand Trunk from 47th St. to Halsted St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906. Ordinance amended March 16, 1903, providing for raising of Chicago & Western Indiana tracks over Chicago Junction Railway at 40th St. Ordinance amended November 12, 1906, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1907.
January 15, 1900
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & Alton from 22nd St. to California Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1903. Ordinance amended December 21, 1903, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1904.
June 18, 1900
Ordinance for elevation of Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago from 22nd St. to Garfield Blvd., and elevation of Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis Englewood Connecting Line from Halsted St. to Stewart Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906. Ordinance amended March 16, 1903, providing for raising of Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago tracks over Chicago Junction Railway at 40th St. Ordinance amended November 12, 1906, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1907.
February 11, 1901
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Milwaukee Road Milwaukee Division and Chicago & North Western Galena Division from Ashland Ave. to Spaulding Ave. on Milwaukee Road, and to Sacramento Ave. on Chicago & North Western, and elevation of paralleling Chicago & North Western Rockwell Line and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis from Kinzie Ave. to Fulton St. Ordinance also for raising of Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway bridge at Kinzie St. over these railroads. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906.
January 13, 1902
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Council Bluffs Division from 40th Ave. (now Pulaski Rd.) to 51st Ave. (now Leclaire Ave.), for elevation of Chicago & North Western Mayfair Cutoff from 40th Ave. (now Pulaski Rd.) to Milwaukee Ave., and elevation of Belt Railway of Chicago from Grand Ave. to Kinzie St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906.
February 3, 1902
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago Junction Railway 49th Street Line from 47th St. to Wallace St., and elevation of paralleling Grand Trunk and Indiana Harbor Belt Stock Yards Line from Halsted St. to Western Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906.
June 18, 1902
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis and Chicago Junction Railway from Western Blvd. (near Pershing Rd.) to 51st St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906. Later replaced with new ordinance dated April 22, 1912 (see below).
July 7, 1902
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Burlington Route and Chicago & North Western South Branch and Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad from Union Street to Robey St. (Damen Ave.). Ordinance also for raising of Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway bridge at 16th St. over these railroads. Deadline for completion December 31, 1908. Ordinance amended December 14, 1908, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1909. Ordinance amended June 20, 1910, extending deadline for completion to August 1, 1910.
September 29, 1902
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago from 73rd St. to Stony Island Ave., for elevation of Nickel Plate Road from 76th St. to 79th St., and elevation of Illinois Central from 67th St. to 79th St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1907. Ordinance amended November 25, 1907, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1908. Ordinance amended June 28, 1909, providing for grade separation of railroads at Grand Crossing, and extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1910. Ordinance amended December 19, 1910, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1911. Ordinance amended December 18, 1911, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1912.
March 16, 1903
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago Junction Railway from Halsted St. to Illinois Central connection. Ordinance also provided for construction of South Side Elevated Railroad branches to Stock Yards and Kenwood. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906. Ordinance amended December 3, 1906, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1907.
March 23, 1903
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & North Western Milwaukee Division from Balmoral Ave. to Rogers Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1908. Ordinance amended June 25, 1906, extending limits from Rogers Ave. to Howard St.
January 29, 1906
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & North Western Galena Division from 47th Ave. (now Kilpatrick Ave.) to Austin Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1910.
June 25, 1906
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago from Stony Island Ave. to 100th St., for elevation of Baltimore & Ohio from 90th St. to 100th St., for elevation of Illinois Central South Chicago Branch from 90th St. to 93rd St., and elevation of paralleling Belt Railway of Chicago and Rock Island South Chicago Line from Jeffery Ave. to South Chicago Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1911, west portions December 31, 1916. Ordinance not accepted by Illinois Central, revised ordinance for that line adopted July 1, 1912. Ordinance amended December 18, 1911, extending deadline for completion of initial work to December 31, 1912.
October 22, 1906
Ordinance for elevation of Belt Railway of Chicago from Adams St. to Ogden Ave., and elevation of Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad Altenheim Line from 44th Ave. (now Kostner Ave.) to 48th Ave. (now Cicero Ave.). Ordinance also for raising of Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway bridge at 46th Ave. over Belt Railway of Chicago. Deadline for completion December 31, 1916.
December 10, 1906
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad Altenheim Line from Washtenaw Ave. to 44th Ave. (now Kostner Ave.). Deadline for completion December 31, 1910. Deadline for completion December 31, 1906. Ordinance amended December 19, 1910, extending deadline for completion to July 31, 1912.
December 17, 1906
Ordinance for construction of new Chicago & North Western Chicago passenger terminal, and new elevated trackage via Galena Division to Ashland Ave., and via Wisconsin Division to Carpenter St. Deadline for completion January 1, 1912.
July 1, 1907
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Evanston Division from Evanston Ave. (now Broadway) to Lawrence Ave., and for electrification of line from Irving Park Rd. to Howard St. for use by trains of Northwestern Elevated Railroad.
September 3, 1907
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Burlington Route and Chicago & North Western South Branch and Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad from Robey St. (Damen Ave.) to Washtenaw Ave. on Burlington Route, and to 12th St. (Roosevelt Rd.) on other two railroads, and elevation of paralleling Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis and Chicago Junction Railway from 12th St. (Roosevelt Rd.) to Marshall Blvd. (31st Blvd.) Ordinance also for raising of Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway bridge at Campbell Ave. over several of these railroads. Deadline for completion December 31, 1910. Ordinance amended December 19, 1910, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1911.
July 13, 1908
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & Western Indiana from 70th St. to State St. and to Oakdale on Dolton Branch, for elevation of Rock Island from 76th St. to 90th St., for elevation of Rock Island South Chicago Line from Gresham to State St., for elevation of Rock Island Suburban Line from Gresham to Carpenter St., for elevation of Wabash from 74th St. to Wood St., and elevation of Belt Railway of Chicago from Wood St. to State St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1914, south portions December 31, 1915. Ordinance amended, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1916.
June 27, 1910
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Bloomingdale Line from Ashland Ave. to Lawndale Ave. Ordinance also for raising of Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railway bridge at Milwaukee Ave. over this railroad. Deadline for completion June 27, 1915.
July 11, 1910
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Evanston Division from Montrose Ave. to Howard St. Deadline for completion July 11, 1917. Ordinance amended April 4, 1917, extending deadline for completion to July 11, 1918. Ordinance amended, extending deadline for completion to May 15, 1925.
April 5, 1911
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & Alton from California Ave. to Kedzie Ave. Deadline for completion November 30, 1913.
April 5, 1911
Ordinance for elevation of Illinois Central from 79th St. to Kensington, for elevation of Nickel Plate Road from 79th St. to Pullman Jct., for elevation of paralleling Chicago & Western Indiana and Belt Railway of Chicago and Rock Island South Chicago Line from State St. to Pullman Jct. and the latter two railroads beyond to Jeffery Ave., and elevation of Chicago & Western Indiana Dolton Branch from 111th St. to Kensington. Ordinance provided for alternate plans depending on whether railroads would agree to grade separate their crossings, including Pullman Jct. which did not become grade separated. Deadline for completion Illinois Central south portion December 31, 1916, Chicago & Western Indiana and Belt Railway of Chicago and Rock Island December 31, 1918, and Illinois Central and Nickel Plate Road December 31, 1921.
April 22, 1912
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Baltimore & Ohio (former Chicago Terminal & Transfer Railroad) and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis from Western Blvd. (near Pershing Rd.) to 69th St., for elevation of Chicago River & Indiana Railroad (Chicago Junction Railway) from 43rd St. to Indiana Harbor Belt connection, and elevation of Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis Englewood Connecting Line from Leavitt Ave. to Halsted St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1918.
December 29, 1913
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Milwaukee Division from Irving Park Rd. to Elston Ave., for elevation of Chicago & North Western Mayfair Cutoff from Irving Park Rd. to Foster Ave., and elevation of Chicago & North Western Wisconsin Division from Kostner Ave. to Central Ave. Various deadlines for completion of certain segments, deadline for final completion December 31, 1925. Ordinance amended May 21, 1917, extending limits on Chicago & North Western Wisconsin Division from Central Ave. to Foster Ave. Ordinance amended January 30, 1925, extending deadline for completion to July 1, 1927.
April 27, 1914
Ordinance for elevation of Milwaukee Road Milwaukee Division from Elizabeth St. to Ashland Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1919. Ordinance amended April 22, 1918, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1921.
January 19, 1916
Ordinance for elevation of Illinois Central Iowa Line at California Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1916. Ordinance amended January 11, 1917, extending deadline for completion to July 31, 1917. Ordinance amended, extending deadline for completion to December 31, 1917.
March 12, 1924
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Belt Railway of Chicago and Wabash and Baltimore & Ohio freight line at Western Ave. At the time, the Baltimore & Ohio freight line diverged from the passenger line at 75th Street interlocking, replaced with present route diverging at 79th Street with ordinance adopted June 30, 1926. Deadline for completion December 31, 1925.
March 11, 1925
Ordinance for elevation of Illinois Central at 130th St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1925.
July 15, 1925
Ordinance for elevation of Santa Fe from Kedzie Ave. to Cicero Ave., and at 38th St. near Corwith Yard. Ordinance also for Robey St. (Damen Ave.) viaduct over paralleling Santa Fe and Illinois Central (Chicago Madison & Northern).
July 22, 1925
Ordinance for elevation of paralleling Grand Trunk Western and Indiana Harbor Belt Stock Yards Line and Chicago River & Indiana from Western Ave. to Elsdon and Grand Trunk Western beyond to 67th St. Deadline for completion Western Ave. to Elsdon December 31, 1926, 57th St. to 67th St. December 31, 1931, Elsdon to 57th St. December 31, 1941.
June 30, 1926
Ordinance for relocation and elevation of Baltimore & Ohio freight line from 79th Street Jct. to 83rd St. Prior to then, the Baltimore & Ohio freight line diverged from the passenger line at 75th Street interlocking. Deadline for completion December 31, 1929.
July 25, 1927
Ordinance for elevation of Chicago & North Western Skokie Line from Rogers Ave. to Peterson Ave., and elevation of Chicago & North Western Weber Line at Peterson Ave. Deadline for completion December 31, 1928.
July 11, 1928
Ordinance for elevation of Wabash from Wood St. to Western Ave., for elevation of Belt Railway of Chicago from Western Ave. to Wood St., and elevation of paralleling Baltimore & Ohio and Pittsburgh Cincinnati Chicago & St. Louis from 69th St. to 87th St. Various deadlines for completion of certain segments, deadline for final completion December 31, 1935.
November 24, 1930
Ordinance for elevation of Santa Fe through Corwith Yard to 47th St. Deadline for completion December 31, 1931. Ordinance amended March 23, 1932, extending deadline for completion to April 15, 1932.
Official Web site for CREATE, which is an acronym for "Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program". This is a plan created by nearly all railroads and relevant government agencies in the Chicago area, consisting of numerous improvements which will reduce railroad congestion in the Chicago area. Included are several grade separation projects.