Construction is ramping up on a new pedestrian bridge crossing Lake Shore Drive and the Illinois Central rail tracks at 43rd Street. When complete in late 2022, it will provide a fully-accessible connection for South Side residents to get to and from the Chicago Lakefront Trail, Burnham Park, and nearby beaches.
Preparation work has been underway on both sides of Lake Shore Drive since January, and an existing overpass will soon be demolished to make way for the curving, snake-like pathway.
Crews on the western side of the site will soon demolish the existing 43rd Street overpass. Jay Koziarz/Urbanize Chicago
If the S-shaped design and arching blue supports in the renderings look familiar, it's because the city completed a similar bridge at nearby 41st street in late 2018. Local architect Cordogan Clark & Associates designed both projects in collaboration with engineering firm AECOM.
Like its sibling to the north, the upcoming 43rd Street connection will feature ADA-compliant ramps to serve pedestrians, cyclists, residents with disabilities, as well as emergency vehicles.
According to the Chicago Department of Transportation, the 43rd Street playlot in Burnham Park will also be replaced with a new playground as part of the project's estimated $31.5 million price tag. Funding comes from a combination of federal and state sources.
Crews are moving earth, preparing foundations, and installing sewer infrastructure on the site's eastern portion.Jay Koziarz/Urbanize Chicago
