Chicago City Wire

The City of Chicago has announced that the annual fall bridge lifts along the main and south branches of the Chicago River will begin on Wednesday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m. The initiative allows sailboats and other recreational boats to move from Lake Michigan to their winter storage facilities.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is responsible for overseeing these seasonal bridge lifts, which occur each spring and fall. According to city officials, "During these boat runs, which take place each Wednesday and Saturday, the bridges will be lifted in succession from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to the 18th Street Bridge on the South Branch of the Chicago River. They are typically raised one at a time, with each bridge lift taking an average of 8 to 12 minutes. While the bridge is in the upright position, traffic is halted, and drivers may use alternate streets or wait until the bridge is lowered."

The schedule for this fall's bridge lifts includes dates through mid-November. The lifts are set for Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Saturdays at either 9:00 or 9:30 a.m., beginning October 1 and concluding November 15.

City officials advise motorists to plan ahead as traffic will be temporarily stopped during each lift. Alternative routes are available for those wishing to avoid delays.