The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that starting June 1, the Cortland Street Bascule Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River will be closed to motor vehicle traffic for structural repairs, weather permitting. At least one sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic during the work, scheduled to last until November. The bridge will be open to bicycle traffic, however bicyclists will be directed to walk their bikes on the sidewalk.

Cars will be detoured via Webster Ave. and truck traffic will be detoured via North Ave. (see attachment)

The project is needed to repair sections of the roadway as well as floor beams, trusses and sidewalks ahead of a project to completely rehabilitate the bridge in 2018.

The Cortland Street Bridge, originally built in 1902, was the first Chicago Style Fixed Trunnion Bascule Bridge. The design was developed by City of Chicago engineers in the late 1890s. This model has been copied worldwide since. As the very first bridge of this type, the Cortland Street Bridge is now considered an historical landmark. 

You can follow CDOT on digital media:

Twitter:  @ChicagoDOT

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CDOTNews

The web: chicagodot.org