Blasting operations for the construction of an intake shaft for a Chicago stormwater tunnel have been completed.
Chicago Transportation officials announced Saturday that work on the Albany Park Stormwater Diversion Tunnel Project is on schedule.
The tunnel is expected to help reduce the potential for flooding in the Albany Park neighborhood on the city's Northwest Side.
Two 150-foot deep shafts will be connected by a mile-long tunnel under Foster Avenue to move excess storm water to the North Shore Channel.
Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld said crews are starting work on the channel that will allow overflow from the Chicago River's North Branch to flow into the intake shaft.
The North Shore Channel has a greater capacity to hold the overflow than the river's North Branch.
The project is expected to be completed by May.
