CHICAGO — Construction crews will begin laying concrete on the Bloomingdale Trail this week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday morning.
When completed the elevated trail will serve as an urban oasis connecting several neighborhoods: Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park. The nearly three-mile trail will stretch as far east as Ashland Avenue to as far west as Ridgeway Avenue.
Back in April, the 100-ton Bloomingdale Trail Bridge was moved using slow-crawling vehicles from its home on Ashland Avenue to above Western Avenue.
"The minute it pulled out on Ashland, it was thrilling to watch," said Beth White, director of The Trust for Public Land's Chicago office. "The symbolism alone is in reusing an old bridge is wonderful. This is an important moment in the project."
The bridge was moved using the same type of vehicles used to move space shuttles, and reusing the old bridge saved nearly $300,000.
"It's great we are taking something old and abandoned and creating something new for the Chicago community," said Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail member and Bucktown resident Darren Beck.
As the concrete is being poured, the public is reminded the trail is an active construction site and unauthorized access is not allowed.
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