Historic Bridge Closing For Three Weeks
CHICAGO (STMW) - A historic South Side bridge will be closed for at least three weeks for "specialized" and "labor-intensive" repairs, the city announced Saturday.
The Ewing Avenue bridge over the Calumet River will be closed for three to four weeks while crews repair main gears of the movable bridge, according to a Saturday statement from the Chicago Department of Transportation.
The bridge, built in 1914, is the oldest bascule bridge along the Calumet River, the statement said. The bridge operates year-round to accommodate commercial shipping traffic.
CDOT crews must fabricate a new part, remove the old one and install the new one, the statement said. The specialized, labor-intensive work will require at least three weeks to complete safely.
The work will be done by CDOT personnel trained in the operation and maintenance of the historic bridges.
Northbound traffic will be detoured to East 95th Street, South South Chicago Avenue and South Harbor Avenue, the statement said. Southbound traffic will be detoured to South Harbor Avenue, South South Chicago Avenue and East 95th Street.
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