Spring Bridge Lifts Could Snarl Traffic Near Chicago River Saturday Morning

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Apr 14, 2017 10:20PM

Photo via Chicago Flickr Pool user Stephanie Barto

The sun is out, the air is getting warmer, and Chicago's enviable boat owners are ready to hit the water. But first, the city needs to lift the two dozen bridges over the Chicago River to allow boats to move from their storage yards to Lake Michigan's harbors.

The first, springtime lifting of the bridges will begin Saturday morning at Ashland Avenue, then move north and east along the branches of the Chicago River as the boats travel from storage to the harbors, the city Department of Transportation announced Friday afternoon. Michigan Avenue's bridge will likely be lifted between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m., if you want to head downtown to see the sight firsthand.

The bridges, 27 in total, will be lifted one at a time, according to CDOT, and each lift should take up to 12 minutes.