Western Avenue Bridge Update:

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, at the Arturo Velasquez Westside Technical Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave. Hosted by the Chicago Department of Transportation and Ald. Julia M. Ramirez (12th Ward).

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is planning a major rehabilitation of the South Western Avenue/ Boulevard Bridge (SN 016-6056) over the Sanitary and Ship. The construction of this project is planned to begin in late 2024. The Western Avenue/Boulevard Bridge was built in 1940, and carries the Western Avenue and Western Boulevard, carrying vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Please, see Exhibit 1 showing bird’s-eye view of the bridge.

The rehabilitation of the bridge includes full superstructure replacement, rehabilitation of the bridge piers and abutments, pavement reconstruction directly adjacent to the bridge, and pavement resurfacing between 31st to the north and the RR viaduct to the south. The proposed bridge will include two sidewalks, two lanes of traffic in each direction on Western Boulevard and Western Avenue, and one bike lane in each direction on Western Avenue, and will include the restoration of architectural fixtures such as ornamental lights, parapets etc. Please, see proposed section in Exhibit 2.

Construction will happen in three stages to allow traffic to utilize different sections of the bridge while it is under construction. Please see Exhibit 3 showing typical traffic staging during construction.

Questions / comments for CDOT can be submitted here.