BUCKTOWN — Good news, motorists: Construction on the Cortland Street bridge is on schedule, which means the main thoroughfare is slated to reopen by Nov. 1, weather permitting, officials said.
Michael Claffey, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation, said construction on the heavily-trafficked bridge is 45 percent finished, with work left to do on the roadway steel beams, decking reconstruction, north movable sidewalk and fixed trusses.
Nearby water, sewer and resurfacing projects, like resurfacing on the 1800 block of North Sheffield Avenue, have been put on hold until after the bridge is completed to lessen the impact on an already congested area, he added.
Since the bridge closed June 1, motorists have been getting stuck in "gridlocked" traffic across Lincoln Park. Some say it might get worse once more residential developments are built.
Ald. Brian Hopkins, whose 2nd Ward includes the bridge, previously told DNAinfo Chicago that his office has been getting flooded with calls about the traffic resulting from the bridge closure. He estimated the closure impacts 10,000 vehicles per day.
Even though the bridge is not located in Ald. Michele Smith's ward, many residents in the 43rd Ward use the bridge as well. It's one of the few east-west routes across the river on the North Side.
"Construction has led to severe traffic congestion and, in some cases, hazardous driving conditions that many of you have reported to our office," Smith said in an email to constituents last week.
Smith's office said they received about a dozen calls regarding increased traffic a couple weeks into construction.
In addition to delaying nearby projects until the bridge is completed, CDOT is making the following changes to construction to lessen congestion:
- Adjusting the timing of traffic lights at the intersection of Webster and Ashland
- Installing a left turn lane and left turn signal on westbound Webster at Ashland
- Placing electronic message signs at North Avenue, Elston and elsewhere, encouraging drivers to use Elston as an alternative to Clybourn
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