2016 ACEC Grand Award Recipient
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS The Bloomingdale Trail, part of “The 606,” consists of 2.7 miles of previously unused elevated rail line converted into a multi-use pathway connecting five parks and four neighborhoods on the northwest side of Chicago.
The Bloomingdale Trail was originally an elevated rail freight line along Bloomingdale Avenue. Once rail traffic slowed in the 1990’s community collaboration turned the attention of the City into creating a desperately needed greenspace. The project consisted of the creation of an elevated park and trail involving fabrication and erection of ADA accessible ramps every quarter of a mile in an effort to improve access to all citizens. Rehabilitation of viaducts and retaining walls was performed to increase safety and infrastructure longevity. The work included removal, transportation, and re-erection of the Ashland Ave. bridge to Western Ave. Other bridge work included structural steel fabrication and erection. Such as Milwaukee Avenue, which was previously a four span simple structure which is now a single span tied arch bridge allowing for the removal of all piers increasing the safety of the motoring public along Milwaukee Avenue. Additionally, rehabilitation and modification of more than 30 existing concrete viaduct structures involved the removal and containment of lead paint, structural repair of concrete, and in many cases replacement of substructure while the superstructure remained in place. Drainage improvements were performed within the footprint of the path to reduce the impact on city infrastructure. Grinding and resurfacing of Bloomingdale Avenue as well as reconstructing sidewalks to ADA compliance. Electrical work consisted of lighting along the pathway as well as viaduct lighting. Architectural landscaping along the length of the elevated trail included five parks and four sections of unique botanical features.
