A newly constructed pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Bronzeville will provide a boost to Chicago’s South Side, according to one city official, which is an investment in infrastructure that improves safety and enhances mobility.
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Alderman Sophia King joined the community to mark the opening of the 43rd Street Pedestrian Bridge, which spans South DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Bronzeville, according to a news release from the mayor’s office. The bridge provides a key connection to the city’s lakefront for South Side residents, according to Lightfoot’s office.
“Under Gov. Pritzker’s leadership, we’re investing in infrastructure, improving safety, and enhancing mobility by providing more options for bicyclists and pedestrians at the local level,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said in the news release. “This project will benefit the community, South Side residents and visitors for decades to come.”
According to the news release, the bridge provides access to bicyclists as well as people with disabilities requiring a wheelchair and it allows for access by emergency vehicles, making it compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“This ribbon cutting is an extraordinary example of all levels of government working together to invest in and build our city's infrastructure in historically disinvested communities," Lightfoot said, according to the news release from her office. "Thank you to our federal and state partners for funding this fully accessible bridge that will improve connections between the Bronzeville and Kenwood neighborhoods and the lakefront. Whether it's commuting to their job, school, parks, or other cultural destinations, bridges like the one we're celebrating today are critical to helping residents and visitors move around the city and experience everything our 77 neighborhoods offer."
The bridge project carried a $36 million price tag, with funding coming from both federal and state funding, according to the news release, and the span is the fourth of five new or revamped bridges done by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT).
“CDOT is excited to celebrate the completion of this project that will greatly improve access to and from Chicago’s lakefront for Bronzeville residents of all ages and levels of mobility,” CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi said in the news release from Lightfoot’s office. “Thanks to our federal and state partners for supporting this project and for investing in infrastructure improvements that improve quality of life for Chicagoans.”