Replacement Of Division Street Bridge Begins Monday
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 27, 2014 3:10PM
Starting Monday crews will begin demolishing Division Street Bridge near Goose Island. The city will be replacing the 111-year-old Bascule Bridge with an interim span while building a permanent Bascule replacement.
The bridge was originally built in 1903 and has served as an integral link across Goose Island for cars, bikes, pedestrians and trains over the years, but currently isn’t wide enough to accommodate the size and flow of modern traffic. The Division Street Bridge is one of several Bascule bridges that made the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois’ 2013 list of the 10 most endangered historic places in the state.
While demolition and the construction of the interim bridge is in progress the following detours will be in place:
Westbound Detour
- Trucks and cars: Halsted Street south to Chicago Avenue, west to Ashland Avenue, then back north to Division.
- Buses: Halsted south to North Branch Street, north to Cherry Avenue, then back north to Division.
- Pedestrians and bicycles: Halsted south to North Branch, then back north to Division.
Eastbound Detour
- Trucks and cars: Ashland south to Chicago, east to Halsted, then back north to Division.
- Buses: Cherry south to North Branch, south to Halsted, then back north to Division.
- Pedestrians and bicycles: North Branch south to Halsted, then back north to Division.
The interim bridge is expected to be completed by mid-October.