Chicago Construction News staff writer
The State Street Bridge over the main branch of the Chicago River will be closed “for emergency repair work” to vehicles and pedestrians starting on Monday, April 28, and continuing until mid-to-late November.
The Chicago Department of Transportation announced the full closure of the bascule bridge on April 11.
“The scope of work involves removing and replacing floor beams and rehabilitating multiple center lock components,” reads the announcement from CDOT. “Additional viaduct repairs north of the bridge will also be constructed.”
The bridge, built in 1949 and reconstructed in 1994, was found to be “structurally deficient” during an inspection in September 2024, according to public records posted by the state’s transportation department.
“Structurally deficient” means load-bearing parts of the bridge are in “poor or worse condition due to deterioration and/or damage,” according to the inspection report.
The same inspection also found the bridge’s deck was in “fair condition,” with minor section loss and cracks, but labeled the upper part of the bridge to be in “poor condition” with “advanced deterioration.”
