Lakefront Path Is A Disaster Area After Being Battered By Waves
By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 3, 2014 5:30PM
Nik Wallenda had to deal with 25 mph gusts during his tightrope walks Sunday night which some Chicagoans would say is normal. Imagine Wallenda attempting his walks during the 50+ mph gusts we saw around here a few days ago; we may be talking about a different ending altogether, if the walk wasn’t canceled.
If you want some idea of the damage those winds can cause, look no further than Lake Michigan, where stretches of the lakefront path resemble a war zone after those heavy winds whipped up a tempest Friday, sent waves crashing onto the lakeshore and Lake Shore Drive and sank the Halloween barge at Navy Pier.
The photo above shows some of the damage suffered at North Avenue Beach. The video below from ABC 7 adds further context to Friday’s sturm und drang while DNAInfo Chicago has even more photos of damage on the lakefront path. The damage hasn’t stopped the most serious runners and bicyclists from trying to navigate the lakefront path, despite police barricades and signs warning the trail was closed. As you can see from the video, one brave soul even jumped into the lake. Basically, if you’re ignoring the signs advising you stay off the trail, you can’t complain about the damage. Find other running and bicycling routes until the Park District completes repairs, which begin Monday.