As of the week of September 23, construction was completed on the Foster Avenue Bridge over I-94 (Edens Expressway). For many coming to Northeastern from the west, Foster Ave plays a central role.
Whether driving or taking the bus, travelers had been circumventing the bridge area since June. This caused increased congestion on Elston Ave. and managed to multiply the already bothersome Lawrence Ave. traffic. Surprisingly, it finished on time, even slightly ahead of schedule: it was slated to last until October 2007 by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The maintenance consisted of completely reconstructing the superstructure, and repairs on the substructure of the bridge. The project cost $1.949 million.
In light of the recent failures of bridges in the United States, most notably the Minneapolis Bridge, it should be reassuring to Chicago residents that the city is taking efforts to repair bridge structures. However, there are still numerous bridges in the entire Chicagoland area that need attention. Safety may play a smaller role than desirable due to costs and budgeting issues.
A project just launched by IDOT will soon be affecting students at NEIU: Starting Sept. 28, IDOT plans to permanently close the right lane and the shoulder of the Edens Expressway for long stretches in both directions of the expressway from Lawrence Ave. to Lake Cook Rd. until Nov. 4, weather permitting. So just because the Foster Ave. bridge is complete, the construction woes will not be over! Students should plan to leave earlier or redirect their travels to the University for the majority of the Fall 2007 semester.
For any other construction information, visit IDOT’s website: http://www.dot.state.il.us. Frequent updates are made to the site’s construction monitors and information, and other handy transportation facts and details can be found there.