The newest section of the Jane Byrne Flyover.
I cannot recommend enough that everyone live where construction is right outside your window. Quiet construction. Relatively un-dusty construction.
Like the Jane Byrne Flyover, for example. Close enough to be mesmerizing, yet far enough away that nary a peep can be heard.
They’re building a new ramp from the inbound Dan Ryan Expressway to the outbound Eisenhower Expressway. As soon as I see equipment amassing inside the Circle Interchange (as it used to be known) I get the coffee hot and the Red Bull cold for optimal night-work spectating. That’s when McHugh Construction lifts the beams into place that form the roadway. Usually. They did some day-time work this time around, as well.
The photos that follow are from two phases of work: One from June 6-8, and just this past weekend, June 17-19.
-
- When the trucks start lining up with beams, you know there’s a show coming to town.
-
- They try to hide from me, but I see ’em.
-
- Bridge supports on either side of the Halsted Street bridge.
-
- Two things to note: Steve, who does all the heavy lifting. And those support pillars lying on the ground.
-
- Here, with Steve’s help, those support pillars are up and ready for beams.
-
- Steve lifts a beam into place on June 7, when this first portion of this round of beams went up.
-
- …and another, this one on the morning of June 8.
-
- Traffic nightmare: The Kennedy ramp to Congress Parkway was closed for the next round of Flyover work.
-
- Traffic goes by to the outbound Dan Ryan as a beam is set on the Congress Parkway ramp.
-
- Then, on June 16, beams are staged on the Kennedy-to-Congress ramp.
-
- Cross bracing is set on the ramp, to be fastened to the beams before they’re lifted into place.
-
- A finished section, and a ramp full of beams for the next section.
-
- More beams are unloaded form semi trailers.
-
- It’s now Saturday evening, June 18, and McHugh Construction crews are preparing to set beams into place.
-
- Gwetting ready to lift the first beam. To the right, the Congress-to-Ryan ramp has been closed.
-
- Here’s the scene.
-
- A second crane is up and ready to go in the “outbound” lane.
-
- Both cranes are ready.
-
- Another look at Steve. He was born to do this.
-
- Bridge crews atop the bridge support, ready to secure the beam once it’s been lifted.
-
- Lift-off, just inches off the ground.
-
- And now almost in place.
-
- Beam #1 is in place, and crews work to secure it.
-
- Here, Beam #2 is almost in place next to the first beam.
-
- Bright and early Sunday morning, the fruits of their labors: six beams all in a row.
-
- A few ground-level views, taken Sunday morning, June 19.
-
- Bridge work and stuffed pizza. What more is there to life?