Riverview Bridge Moves Closer to Reality

Last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced an ordinance in City Council that would allow the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to lease the land needed for the construction of the Epstein designed and engineered Riverview Bridge from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). This decree, if approved by City Council, would then allow for CDOT to issue an RFP for construction bids for Riverview Bridge, and possibly begin construction on Riverview this winter. If that is the case, then bicyclists and pedestrians across Chicagoland would be able to ride/walk over the Chicago River in 2018.

Here's a link to the article about Mayor Emanuel's ordinance and Riverview Bridge which appeared in dnaInfo Chicago - goo.gl/Am4dDV

For those of you not familiar with our design for Riverview Bridge, here are some renderings as well as a brief description of the project.

Riverview Bridge will be a 16-span, 1,000 foot long, and 16-foot wide pedestrian and bicycle bridge that will cross the Chicago River at Addison and connect Clark Park with California Park. By running below Addison Street and running off-street to a new bridge over the river to California Park a nearly contiguous 2-mile long recreational trail will be created between Clark Park at Belmont Avenue and Horner Park at Montrose. With a safe and secure connection between Horner, California and Clark Parks, the parks themselves are enhanced nominally creating a single from the set. Additionally, by providing a multipurpose bridge over the river is the key to the singular character of this trail segment and promises to reintroduce the river to thousands of Chicago residents.