Dear Residents,
I want to say thanks to all of the residents and community organizations that have over the last 28 years helped to beautify the 40th Ward by donating their time, energy and money in developing neighborhood gardens. Over the next several years, Metra will be upgrading their facilities. They have assured me that they will try to be as unintrusive as possible as they can be when they are in the areas that you helped beautify.
Below is a description of the scope of work that Metra is planning to do. If you have any other concerns once the project begins, please feel free to call our office at 773-769-1140.
Many Thanks,
Patrick J. O’Connor
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Project Details
Beginning in August, residents in the 40th Ward will see construction work on Metra’s Union Pacific North line (pdf). This is the beginning of Metra’s $185M Union Pacific North line bridge and retaining wall construction project.
Twenty-two bridges on the north side of Chicago on Metra’s Union Pacific North line will be completely replaced. Construction will improve clearance on surface streets and give cleaner views. This project is expected to take eight years.
The Balmoral bridge will be the first structure to be replaced. In order to begin construction, Balmoral Avenue under Metra’s Union Pacific North line tracks will be closed for six weeks. The street can then reopen to vehicular traffic but it will need to be closed again for a couple of days when the steel arrives for bridge replacement. The Balmoral Avenue bridge wing walls will extend 35 feet north and south on the west side of the bridge. Work on the east side of the bridge will begin 2012. A retaining wall is needed on the northeast side of Balmoral and will run 90 feet north. There is no need for a retaining wall on the southeast side of Balmoral.
Work will also begin in 2012 along the east side of Metra’s Union Pacific North line from Berwyn Avenue to Foster Avenue as a new retaining wall is erected.
It’s important to note that the Berwyn Avenue pedestrian tunnel will remain open during construction.
The second bridge to be replaced in the 40th Ward will be at Foster Avenue. On the northwest side of the Foster Avenue bridge, the replacement wing wall will extend 35 feet north. The east side of the bridge will be reinforced by the new retaining wall.
Residents in the 40th Ward who may use the Rogers Park and Ravenswood stations will notice a slight change in train schedules. Because of the large scope of the Union Pacific North line bridge and retaining wall construction project, train schedules have been adjusted. A new Ravenswood station will be built, but there will be no disruption of service during construction. The average trip times for Rogers Park and Ravenswood will either improve or be a maximum of two minutes longer.
The complete new proposed schedule is available on www.metrarail.com. Construction updates will be posted on Metrarail.com, but if you would like to be notified when there are updates, please log on to MyMetra and sign up, select the Union Pacific North line and check the box that says “email notifications of service alerts on my train routes.” And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @MetraUPN.
