With work starting next week on a major project to improve the east end of the Chicago Riverwalk, City officials announced that a portion of the Riverwalk will be closed for construction from Monday, December 17, through May. The closure will extend from Lake Shore Drive to Wabash Avenue. A detour route for people on bikes will be in place on Randolph and Washington streets. All access points to the Riverwalk west of Wabash will remain open.

Earlier this year, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans to improve the east end of the Chicago Riverwalk as part of ongoing efforts to build upon the success of the acclaimed riverfront promenade and further enhance visitors’ experience from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive.  Improvements will include changes to the path to re-orientate visitor’s experience with the river, recreation areas, children’s play area, public art, improved landscaping and creation of a Community Corridor Marketplace that will complement current concessions program and highlight neighborhood businesses.

The work will include the removal of the ramp from Upper Wacker and Wabash down to the Riverwalk and the addition of two elevators to improve ADA access to the Riverwalk, one at Wabash and one at Columbus Drive. The ramp providing ADA access to the Riverwalk at State Street by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will remain open.

For bicycle riders, there will a detour route westbound from the Lakefront Trail along the Randolph Street protected bike lane; eastbound, the detour will be along the Washington Street and Randolph protected bike lanes.