A Historic Move for Chicago

Hi everyone, Liane here.

On Saturday, April 19th, 2014 history was made in Chicago, and I got to be a part of it through my internship with The Trust for Public Land. A part of the design for The Bloomingdale Trail includes moving a century old bridge that once stretched over Ashland Avenue into a new home over Western Avenue.

I woke up at 4am to travel up to Wicker Park to participate in "the bridge parade" which started at 5:30am. Staff from all different companies working on The 606 project were there following behind this massive bridge as it was maneuvered along the streets of Ashland Avenue, North Avenue, and Western Avenue.

This video footage is the bridge coming out onto the street for the first time. Take a look!!!
(Note: you may want to turn down your volume before playing as this machinery was quite loud)

The man you see in this video used a very impressive hand controller with multiple joysticks to control the vehicle which transported the Ashland Bridge.

The driver of the Ashland Bridge move.
 

We traveled along side the bridge as it moved along its route to Western Avenue. Things got a little tight when the bridge had to go underneath the Blue Line stop at Damen Avenue. There were mere inches to spare between the bridge and then elevated tracks.

The Ashland Bridge travelling underneath the Blue Line tracks at Damen Avenue.
 

It was incredible to see such a huge structure rolling down the streets of such an iconic neighborhood. I am particularly proud of this shot of the bridge on North Avenue as it passes in front of the historic Bath Houses early in the morning.

The Ashland Bridge moving down North Avenue.

Once the bridge came to its final resting place news crews were everywhere. Beth White, the Director of Chicago's Trust for Public Land chapter, gave interviews for so many different news crews. Seeing one of my internship supervisors in action during one of the most monumental aspects of The Bloomingdale Trail's construction was very inspiring!

Beth White, the Director of The Trust for Public Land Chicago, doing and interview about the bridge move.
 

After a while of watching the construction crew prepare the bridge to be lifted into its new placement over Western Avenue Mayor Rahm Emanuel showed up. It was a frenzy as everyone tried to gather around him.

I was fortunate enough to be up at the front of the action, and got to see him having a laugh with the man who maneuvered the bridge through the streets. The picture below shows the Mayor playfully sizing up the bicep muscle of the bridge vehicle driver.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the driver of the vehicle carrying the Ashland Bridge.

All of the staff members who I get to work with at my internship were joking with me throughout the morning about how much I have been able to see during my time with them. It has been such an amazing experience, and I have ACM to thank for making this opportunity possible.