More delays, future closures for Chicago's iconic river bridges in need of repair

CHICAGO (WLS) -- As holiday commuters continue to snarl up traffic around the downtown Loop, the ABC7 I-Team has learned a Chicago River bridge that was closed for repairs most of this year is not reopening anytime soon.

This is the second time that the reopening of the State Street bridge downtown has been delayed.

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Looking ahead to 2026 and the years to follow, the I-Team has learned more bridges could be closed as city engineers race to repair these century-old iconic city features.

While moveable bridges over the Chicago River are a city hallmark, their closures are congesting rush-hour traffic on a daily basis.

During rush-hour traffic around 300 N. Canal Street, some commuters may have felt palpable fear. The I-Team's cameras captured backed-up drivers stuck on Metra railroad tracks, trying to pull out and away from danger as the railroad gate arms came down.

Driver after driver, these cars are backed up after the Lake Street bridge was closed earlier this year for repairs. It's not slated to reopen until January 2028, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT).

Speaking with the I-Team this fall, CDOT's Chief Bridge Engineer Arsalan Khan explained these types of river bridges require more extensive work than the common bridge.

"These are such complex structures that, you know, we can only do so much modernization," Khan explained. "And these [bridges] have to move, so we have to be cognizant of how much work we do on that... It's a very labor-intensive process."

After the surprise closure of the State Street bridge for "emergency repairs" in April, the reopening date has been pushed back twice.

Originally scheduled to reopen mid-November, it was first pushed to January 2026 for additional steel repairs.

Now, due to "weather-related delays," CDOT officials tell the I-Team the State Street bridge reopening has been pushed back again. No reopening date has been set yet.

In addition to four bridges currently closed for repairs (State Street, Lake Street, Chicago-Halsted, and Cortland), the I-Team has learned more will be closed in the coming years.

The N. LaSalle Street bridge in the downtown loop is slated for "major rehabilitation as soon as 2026," CDOT officials confirmed.

Also, the Michigan and Grand Avenue river bridges are also needing "major" work and will require closure, possibly starting in the next two years.

The closures and ripple effect they are having on traffic has upset some aldermen, including 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly.

"There's no dispute that these are old bridges that need to be repaired," Reilly told the I-Team. "The issue here is the lack of coordination."

"If you're familiar with traffic patterns downtown, especially during rush hour, you understand that incredible amount of traffic volume is going east and west, and when you shut off all of those routes at the same time... that is going to have a significant impact on people's ability to get home," Reilly said.

As the I-Team reported in November, aldermen and commuters have been vocal with the frustration of so many closures all at the same time. A review of federal data from the National Bridge Inventory shows most of the city's bridges that are in need of high-priority repairs have been listed in "poor condition" since 2016.

"What we can't do is layer future bridge closures on top of the ones that already are [in place]," Reilly said. "That will literally turn the central business district of Chicago into an island onto itself."

But because of the age and complexity of these iconic structures, CDOT says sometimes even planned closures are unpredictable.

"If something gets critical, we will close it," Khan told the I-Team in November. "Our first instinct is try to figure out like, how can we still maintain traffic on it... If there was imminent danger, we would close the bridge."

While the CDOT has told the I-Team there is no master schedule for bridge repairs, the I-Team inquired about 10 river bridges that are currently listed as needing "high priority" repairs or replacement.

Here's what city officials told us about those bridges:

• Division Street Bridge: "The Division St. bridges (over the river and over the Canal) will have construction however will not be closed in the coming year, since we will be constructing temporary bridges to maintain the traffic flow during construction." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Franklin/Orleans Street Bridge: "There is no anticipated closure on this bridge." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Grand Ave Bridge: "This bridge is programmed to have major rehabilitation in the coming years. This capital project will not begin until after Chicago and Halsted have been completed and opened to traffic." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Kinzie Street Bridge: "Sidewalk repairs are anticipated within the next two years. At that time, other repairs will take place. The exact schedule is not yet determined but other bridge work in the area will be considered before impacting traffic." - CDOT Spokesperson


• DuSable Lake Shore Drive Bridge: "This project is expected to require improvements of an undetermined extent within the next several years." - CDOT Spokesperson


• N LaSalle St: "This bridge is programmed to have major rehabilitation as soon as 2026." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Michigan Ave Bridge: "This bridge is in the planning stages of design for a major capital rehabilitation. Construction is still 3-5 years from now based on design completion and funding programming." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Roosevelt Road Bridge: "This bridge is in the planning stages of design for a major capital rehabilitation. Construction is still 3-5 years from now based on design completion and funding programming." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Wilson Ave Bridge: "This is over the North Branch of the Chicago River. This project is expected to require improvements of an undetermined extent, following those already scheduled, within the next several years." - CDOT Spokesperson


• Randolph Street: "There is no anticipated closure for this bridge." - CDOT Spokesperson