Ordinances passed by the City of Chicago, requiring the railroads to elevate their trackage. Ordinances are listed chronologically at the Chicago Track Elevation page, which contains a more comprehensive background on track elevation in Chicago.
Ordinances are listed sequentially along the line, along with further commentary.
Chicago Passenger Terminal to Carpenter St.
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.
At Carpenter St., the trackage from the new terminal joined the trackage from the old terminal, which had been elevated beginning at Sangamon St.
Sangamon St. to Diversey Ave.
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.
Diversey Ave. to Balmoral Ave.
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.
Balmoral Ave. to Howard St.
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.
A track elevation project was begun through Kenosha in 1931. The Great Depression interrupted work in 1933, but work resumed in 1936. And the project was completed in 1939.
A grade separation project in Winnetka was started in 1938 and completed in 1941. The paralleling Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad also participated in this project.