CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Lake Shore Drive will be closed overnight on the South Side for the demolition of the old 43rd Street Pedestrian Bridge.
The Chicago Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it has scheduled the full overnight closure of South Lake Shore Drive starting at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9 until 5 a.m. Thursday, June 10, weather permitting, for demolition of the old 43rd Street Pedestrian Bridge.
The work is part of the project to construct a new, fully accessible pedestrian and bike bridge over Lake Shore Drive and the railroad tracks.
During the overnight closure, vehicular traffic will be detoured via Cottage Grove Avenue. Drivers are urged to take alternate routes, including the Dan Ryan Expressway, to avoid delays.
Southbound South Lake Shore Drive will be closed at Oakwood Boulevard/39th Street and traffic will be detoured to Cottage Grove to 47th Street and back to southbound Lake Shore Drive.
Northbound South Lake Shore Drive will be closed at 47th Street and detoured via 47th Street to Cottage Grove to Oakwood Boulevard and back to northbound South Lake Shore Drive.
The new replacement bridge will feature a similar, curving, S-shaped design to the new companion bridge at 41st Street that opened in 2018. It will be fully ADA accessible with ramps to accommodate bicycles, wheelchairs and emergency vehicles.
The new bridge is expected open for use at the end of 2022.
