Chicago City Wire

CDOT Announces Start of Spring Bridge Lifts Along the Chicago River Saturday April 20

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has revealed that the spring bridge lifts will commence on Saturday, April 20, with the raising of 27 bridges from South Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

According to CDOT, "Each year, in the spring and fall, CDOT raises the movable bridges along the Main and South Branches of the Chicago River on a twice-weekly schedule on Saturdays and Wednesdays to accommodate recreational boats traveling to and from their storage yards."

"While the bridge is in the upright position, traffic is halted, and drivers may use alternate streets or wait until the bridge is lowered," CDOT further explained.

The bridge lifts, which typically begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, will see a total of 27 bridges being lifted in succession from the Ashland Avenue Bridge on the South Branch to Lake Shore Drive.

During these operations, the bridges are raised one at a time, with each lift taking an average of 8-12 minutes. This temporary halt in traffic is necessary to facilitate the smooth operation of the bridge lifts.

Drivers in the area are advised to plan their routes accordingly, as traffic will be affected during the bridge lifts. Alternative routes can be used while the bridges are in the raised position.

CDOT has provided a schedule for the Spring 2024 bridge lifts, with a calendar available for reference on their website.