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After months of anticipation, the $21,400,000 suspension bridge that's gradually been taking form at North Avenue appears to be nearing completion. This morning, for the first time since construction began in mid-2006, traffic is actually passing over the bridge, instead of being diverted to the temporary bridge that sits just to the south.
For those that haven't been following the process, construction began in June of 2006 on the new hybrid suspension/cable-stayed bridge, which crosses the Chicago River at North Avenue. The bridge will be one of the first such hybrid systems in the country, and it was chosen due to space constraints, structural integrity, and because it's pretty sweet to look at. Traffic is still limited to two lanes, but when it's completed, the bridge will serve two luxurious lanes in each direction, in addition to two bike lanes and sidewalks. -- Mark Boyer
rpatrickmohrphotography captures the bridge in all its festive glory
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I remember how I built a huge suspension bridge out of popsicle sticks for a fifth grade science fair (screw you science! all hail engineers as your new god!!!). And now, every time I see a suspension bridge, I get a little giddy inside.
Couple that with the fact I live right down the street from this thing and will cross it several times a week, and its awesome architectural design, and I'm just geeking out like any bridge dork would...
the most amazing part to me was how quickly they built the temporary bridge. Although it also concerned me that a bridge went up so quickly and was driven over for a year and a half. How can it take so long to build one bridge and only a small amount of time to build another?
I was thinking the exact same thing as #2. It seems like it's taken a really loooong time to finish that thing. And it was making me start to wonder just how much longer the temp would be considered safe.
@Mike Thoms
Because a temporary bridge that meets the needs of 12-18 months would be really easy to slap up and patch if needed. But one that is meant to stand for 75-100 years would require a lot more work rooting in place, a lot more concrete, and is meant to meet more standards and specs that a simple tear-away bridge would.
And they were building the temp bridge parallel to the old bridge for some time (like a month or so). I'm more surprised at how quick they got the new bridge up.
Mike_thoms - I've always wondered that too. Spooky.
It's about time--that temporary bridge was starting to look a little ragged ... expansion joints popping up, chunks of asphalt missing, etc.
But what do I know? I'm about the furthest thing from an engineer one can be. I tried to build an Erector set bridge once, and people--actual people--died in its collapse.
Anyway, that new bridge is really nice-looking.
the most important question is, will the new bridge alleviate the massive congestion of Chicago's newest neighborhood, Cluster Fuck Gardens?
It actually opened to traffic yesterday afternoon. I go over that bridge eastbound every night on the bus, and I noticed that the usual heart-dropping-to-stomach-because-of-swerve-of-death was missing from my commute. I looked up and noticed we were passing over the lovely and colorful new bridge. Sweet! I won't miss the thrill ride as the bus took the curve on the temporary bridge at full speed.
It actually opened to traffic yesterday afternoon. I go over that bridge eastbound every night on the bus, and I noticed that the usual heart-dropping-to-stomach-because-of-swerve-of-death was missing from my commute. I looked up and noticed we were passing over the lovely and colorful new bridge. Sweet! I won't miss the thrill ride as the bus took the curve on the temporary bridge at full speed.
Judging by the picture, it's a two-lane bridge. So, no. No it won't.
I'm pleasantly surprised this got done so quickly... as much as I enjoyed driving and biking over that rickedy temporary bridge... but traffic in the North/Sheffield area will continue to be terrible.
I've always been wondering what was up with that bridge! I can't wait for the bike lanes...
@Dave: what you are seeing in the picture is the new east bound lanes and the divider in the middle of the bridge. Temporary striping has been painted to allow traffic in both directions. The permanent west bound lanes aren't yet open (this all assumes that the picture is in fact looking east).
Am I the only one who thought it was going to look better than it does? It looks kind of clunky to me, and not in the 100 year old bascule bridge cool looking clunky.
@quint:
It does look totally different from the concept sketch I saw on this site when the construction began. But up close, I thought it looked sort of "futuristic". Maybe in the future, everything is clunky.
Like personal jetpacks, for instance.
Actually this iamge is facing west. The north side of the bridge is done, complete with neat looking guard rails. The south side is still lacking rails.
I was just a few minutes late for work, hehe! Too busy taking pics!
Rich
Actually this image is facing west. The north side of the bridge is done, complete with neat looking guard rails. The south side is still lacking rails.
I was just a few minutes late for work, hehe! Too busy taking pics!
Rich