Articles under Infrastructure/Construction Notice

Mike Claffey    312.744.0707 | Michael.Claffey@cityofchicago.org

Susan Hofer    312.742.2006 | Susan.Hofer@cityofchicago.org

Alderman Tom Tunney (44^th Ward) was joined today by Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld, Department of Water Management (DWM) Commissioner Randy Conner and Commissioner Karen Tamley of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) at an event to highlight infrastructure and safety improvements in the 44^th Ward, including the installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals at Roscoe Street and Inner N. Lake Shore Drive that make it safer for people who are visually impaired to cross the street.

“This is a great day for the 44^th Ward when we get to celebrate the completion of a series of transportation infrastructure investments that will improve quality of life and safety for our residents,” Alderman Tunney said. “I especially want to thank all the 44^th Ward residents who have had to bear with us during the construction process. This was a coordinated effort involving multiple projects that will improve transportation options for everyone getting around within the 44^th Ward.”

The event occurred just days after CDOT reopened all lanes on N. Lake Shore Drive at LaSalle Drive near North Avenue after work was completed on an accelerated bridge repair project, as well as the resurfacing of N. Lake Shore Drive from Grand Avenue to Monroe Street.  The 44^th Ward event highlighted four projects that were recently completed by the administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel:

1. Completion of a Neighborhood Greenway that provides a 1.5 mile, low stress route for people on bikes and on foot from Lincoln Avenue to the lake front; the eastbound bike route is along School Street and Aldine Avenue, the westbound bike route is along Roscoe Street and feeds into the Lake Front Trail via the underpass under LSD.
2. An arterial resurfacing project on Inner LSD from Belmont Avenue to Stratford Place.
3. Five major water main repairs between Aldine Avenue and Hawthorne Place.
4. Installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at Roscoe Street and Inner LSD. An APS is a traffic signal that helps people who are visually impaired by communicating information about pedestrian timing in a non-visual format, such as audible tones or verbal messages.

“I’m very happy to be here with my colleagues to highlight this series of projects that we have recently completed in the 44th Ward,” CDOT Commissioner Scheinfeld said. “Under the administration of Mayor Emanuel, we’re building a New Chicago and we’re building a safer Chicago with projects like these in neighborhoods all across the City.”

Last year Chicago launched a Vision Zero Action Plan which outlines goals and strategies to reduce traffic crashes and eliminate serious injuries and fatalities on the City’s roadways by 2026. In order to achieve this goal, CDOT uses a Complete Streets approach to designing infrastructure improvements. This means that pedestrians come first in the hierarchy when designing roadway improvements, because people walking are the most vulnerable users of the right of way.  When safety enhancements are added for people walking and biking, it enhances safety for all users, including motorists.

“Since the Mayor launched the Building a New Chicago capital plan in 2011, we’ve been frequent visitors to the 44th Ward replacing more than 18 miles of water and sewer mains,” said DWM Commissioner Conner. “A stronger water infrastructure helps conserve water and lays the foundation for Chicago to grow.”

“Audible Pedestrian Signals are critical to the safe navigation of Chicago’s blind and low vision community,” said MOPD Commissioner Karen Tamley. “Today’s announcement also represents an important step forward in the city’s greater commitment to increased accessibility of our streets and sidewalks for all people with disabilities, residents and visitors alike.”

Roscoe and the Inner Drive is the eleventh intersection at which CDOT has installed such APS signals around the City. CDOT is working with the MOPD and other stakeholders to pick sites for additional APS signals.

Please use the link below to access the link directly from CDOT’s homepage:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/ped/news/2018/october/44th-ward-alderman-tunney-joined-by-commissioners-of-cdot–dwm-a.html

 

You can follow CDOT on digital media:

Twitter:  @ChicagoDOT/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CDOTNews
The web: www.chicagodot.org

 

Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Construction Notice:

Clark St. from Diversey to Addison ADA Ramp Improvement Project

• All non-ADA compliant crosswalks within the corridor will be upgraded to ADA compliant crosswalks.
• Several crosswalks will include curb extension and additional sidewalk areas to improve pedestrian visibility and reduce crossing distance to make the crosswalks safer for all users.
• All traffic lanes will remain open to vehicular traffic during construction. Parking restrictions will be posted at location when work is occurring.
• The construction work will consist of removing the existing curb and sidewalk at intersection corners and installing new concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk.
• Work along the east side of Clark St. will begin on Thursday, October 18th and be completed by Thursday, November 1st.
• Work on the west side of Clark St. will begin once the east side is complete, approximately November 1st, and be completed by Thursday, November 15th.
• Contact CDOT field representative John Fawcett at (630)244-9957 with any questions or Dan Manoli with the 44th Ward at (773)525-6034.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that the North Lake Shore Drive repaving project between Monroe St. and Grand Ave. is ahead of schedule. Shortly after morning rush hour on Thursday, September 13, construction crews are expected to change traffic configurations on N. LSD.  Drivers should notice an improved commute as they will be driving on newly resurfaced lanes between Monroe St. and Grand Ave.

The new traffic pattern will re-open the inner two lanes of traffic in each direction and close the outer two lanes northbound and southbound.  Additionally, at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, the northbound exit ramp from LSD to Illinois St. and the southbound exit ramp to Randolph St. will be closed for repairs and resurfacing.  Also, at 7:00 p.m., DuSable Harbor parking will be restricted.  The northbound exit at Randolph St. and the ramp from Randolph St. to Lower LSD will remain open until work on the Illinois St. ramps is completed.  Once Illinois St. reopens, the Randolph St. ramps will be resurfaced. There may also be periodic closures of Lower LSD and Wacker Dr. to ensure worker and motorist safety if surface work requires extensive repairs.

CDOT is carrying out the work on an accelerated schedule with around the clock lane closures and crews working double shifts in order to complete the repairs as quickly and safely as possible, with a minimum amount of inconvenience for drivers. Currently, the project remains on schedule.

Once the mainline resurfacing is complete, motorists can expect periodic partial lane closures on LSD in both directions for pavement striping and punch list work on both projects. This work will take place during off peak times, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., weather permitting.

CDOT continues to encourage motorist to seek alternative routes or public transportation until the project is completed.

 

You can follow CDOT on digital media:

Twitter:  @ChicagoDOT
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CDOTNews
The web: chicagodot.org