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The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that as part of its reconstruction of the Adams Street Bascule Bridge and the viaduct structure over the Union Station railroad tracks, pedestrian access on Adams Street at the bascule bridge will be closed for sixty days, starting October 10.  The 60-day full bridge closure is necessary to perform major structural steel repairs on the bascule bridge.  Vehicle and bicycle traffic has been barred from the bridge since late January. 

Pedestrians will be barred from using Adams Street over the Union Station railroad tracks.  However, there is a mid-block crossing on Adams. Signs were installed last week to notify the public of the closure period.  Pedestrians will be detoured either north to Monroe, or south to Jackson, if they need to walk west from Wacker Drive. 

The Adams Street entrance to Union Station will remain open during construction, but additional access points on Madison Street, Canal Street, and Jackson Blvd. can also be used (See attached map).  The mid-block crosswalk on Adams will also remain open.

The Adams Street Bridge is one of Chicago’s iconic bascule bridges that raises and lowers to allow for boat traffic on the river. CDOT has rebuilt or substantially repaired most of the other bascule bridges over the past ten years. This work allows for restoration of their function and extension of their usable life.   In addition to the major reconstruction of the bridge over the railroad viaduct, the project will include improvements to the Adams Street and Canal Street intersection, new street lighting and traffic signals, improved roadway drainage, and structural and electrical improvements to the Adams Street Bascule Bridge.

The sidewalks are expected to reopen by December 10, weather permitting, and the entire bridge reconstruction is expected to be complete early next year.  Attached is a map showing alternate pedestrian routes available during this closure.

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Twitter:  @ChicagoDOT
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The web: chicagodot.org