INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Governor Mike Braun joined City of Wabash Mayor Scott Long and Secretary of Transportation and Infrastructure Matt Ubelhor to celebrate the opening of the much-anticipated Railroad Overpass project in Wabash.
“Residents of Wabash were experiencing an abundance of slowed or stopped trains, which presented serious safety issues,” Gov. Braun said. “Collaborative projects between state and local entities that improve quality of life for Hoosiers are crucial for communities across the state.”
The $12 million overpass project on East Street over Norfolk Southern Railroad aims to eliminate the potential for crossing collisions and provide unobstructed north-south access, reducing delays in emergency response times.
“As a city completely divided by railroad tracks, this project was essential to alleviating disruptions and providing safer, more efficient travel for residents,” said Mayor Long. “The city sees more than a dozen train crossings each day, causing significant delays for commuters and emergency services.”
Indiana is home to more than 8,700 highway-rail crossings, two-thirds of which are grade public crossings. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 96 percent of rail-related fatalities over the past 10 years were highway-rail grade crossing and trespassing incidents.
“Any time we can help prevent injuries or fatalities through safety improvement projects is a win for everybody,” said Secretary Ubelhor. “Safety is the top priority for all modes of transportation.”
Construction of the Railroad Overpass project began in early 2025 as part of INDOT’s Local Trax Rail Overpass Program.
More about Local Trax:
Since 2018, the Local Trax program has provided grants to cities, towns, and counties for grade separation, crossing closure, and other safety enhancement projects at highway-rail intersections on local roads across Indiana. Funding for this program totals at least $125 million.
INDOT funds 100 percent of project design fees and 80 percent of total project construction and right-of-way costs. The required local match of 20 percent can be reached through local partnerships, including funding from the host railroad.
Flier: Local Trax Flier 2025.
