(BELLE RIVE, IL) — A $3.6 million lawsuit filed in Jefferson County court by the Village of Belle Rive against Illinois Central Railroad Company has been dismissed. The Village filed the suit last year alleging the railroad breached the terms of a 1925 contract in which it agreed to construct 3 bridges in the Village and “thereafter maintain such bridges.” Illinois Central does business under the name CN and it is owned by Canadian National Railway Co. The Railroad constructed the bridges built out of timber and over time, the wood has deteriorated and 3 bridges have become impassable for vehicles to safely travel over. The bridges are closed to all traffic and the deep valley through the Village separates the east side from the west side. According to the complaint, the Village has asked the railroad to maintain the bridges so residents can get from one side of town to the other, but the Railroad has failed to act. But last week Judge David Overstreet ruled that the Illinois Commerce Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over the issues raised in Belle Rive’s lawsuit and that the commission had previously exercised jurisdiction over the 10^th Street bridge without the village’s objection. Overstreet found that the village had prematurely asked the court to rule on issues without first seeking relief from the ICC.