Last week, North Branch Works facilitated a webinar, The State of Infrastructure & Major Projects along the North Branch.

The program featured updates about Lincoln Yards, Halsted Pointe, and the modern, two-story logistics facility currently under construction at the southwest corner of Elston Avenue and Division Street.

Along with the development projects, CDOT officials spoke about the replacement of the two bridges on Division Street, the replacement of the Chicago Avenue Bridge and the Chicago-Halsted viaduct, and the rehabilitation of the Cortland Street Bridge.

We were honored to have an incredible panel of leaders representing Sterling Bay, Onni Group, Logistics Property Company, the 32^nd Ward, and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT).

If you missed our meeting or would like to review the highlights, please see the recap that follows.

Replacement of the Division Street Bridges

Soliman Khudeira from CDOT provided an update, sharing these major points:

• The Division Street Project area runs one-mile along Division Street between the I-90 Expressway (west) and Cleveland Avenue (east).
• The project will widen Division Street, add street lighting, and landscaping, install a new traffic signal at Hickory Street, and modernize the traffic signals.
• The new bridges will have two travel lanes in each direction and new left turn lanes, and bicycle lanes.
• There will be no detours during construction; temporary bridges will be built to the north of each bridge and accommodate one lane of traffic in each direction.
• Construction is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2023 and last for two years. The projected completion date is the fourth quarter of 2025.

Replacement of the Chicago Avenue Bridge and Chicago/Halsted Viaduct

Soliman Khudeira from CDOT also spoke about this project. Here's the update:

• The project area for the replacement of the Chicago Avenue Bridge is from Green Street (west) to Kingsbury Street (east).
• The project area for the replacement of the Chicago/Halsted Viaduct is from Ancona Street (south) to the Chicago River (north).
• The project scope involves replacing the Chicago Avenue and Halsted Viaduct and Chicago Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River.
• There will not be a detour during construction; a temporary bridge will be constructed.
• A new traffic signal will be installed at Chicago Avenue and Jefferson; it will be constructed by Bally’s Corporation.
• This work includes modernizing traffic signals at Chicago and Halsted and Chicago and Larrabee.
• Construction is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2024 and be completed by the second quarter of 2026.

Courtland Street Bridge Rehabilitation

Charlene Howell from CDOT shared the following information:

• The Cortland Street Bridge was built in the early 1900s and is the oldest Bascule bridge in Chicago.
• The project scope includes replacing the deck and steel floor system and counterweights. It will also repair tress degeneration, rehabilitate the bridge house, repair the handrails and upgrade the lighting.
• This project will retain the character of this historic bridge.
• The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic during construction; however, one sidewalk and one bike lane will remain open for people walking and biking.
• The earliest construction might begin is the third quarter of 2023. It’s expected the project will take 9-12 months.

This story is the first in a two-part series. Come back next week for the latest news regarding major developments in the North Branch.

With many projects underway and others expected to begin in the near future, we are committed to keeping our businesses and neighborhood stakeholders informed.

Please watch for updates on our blog and social media.

Image credit: Chicago Department of Transportation