CDOT Announces Start of Spring Bridge Lifts Along the Chicago River This Weekend

April 13, 2023

27 bridges to be raised in sequence from Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Erica Schroeder

312.744.0707 | Erica.Schroeder@cityofchicago.org

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced spring bridge lifts will begin on Saturday, April 15, with the raising of 27 bridges from South Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The annual bridge lifts allow recreational sailboats to safely move from boat storage to harbors in Lake Michigan. Saturday’s boat run will start at 8:00 a.m. with bridges raised sequentially. Each bridge lift takes an average of eight to 12 minutes.

Each year, in the spring and fall, CDOT raises the movable bridges along the Main and South Branches of the Chicago River on a twice-weekly schedule on Saturdays and Wednesdays to accommodate recreational boats traveling to and from their storage yards. Bridge lifts typically begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.  

The Spring 2023 schedule is as follows:

 

  • Saturday, April 15
  • Wednesday, April 19
  • Saturday, April 22
  • Wednesday, April 26
  • Saturday, April 29
  • Wednesday, May 3
  • Saturday, May 6
  • Wednesday, May 10
  • Saturday, May 13
  • Wednesday, May 17
  • Saturday, May 20
  • Wednesday, May 24
  • Wednesday, May 31
  • Saturday, June 3
  • Wednesday, June 7
  • Saturday, June 10
  • Wednesday, June 14
  • Saturday, June 17

 

 

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