After being delayed a week, crews on Monday began the reconstruction of the Fullerton Avenue Bridge.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction along Fullerton as the deteriorating, 72-year-old bridge overlooking the Lincoln Park Lagoon is replaced.
The $11.6 million construction of the bridge and adjacent pedestrian underpass is expected to continue through December. The pedestrian underpass will be closed, and a detour will be posted.
"This important infrastructure investment includes reconfiguring the adjacent park paths to improve safety and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act," CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein said in a statement. "Key drainage and landscaping enhancements are provided in this design, as well as critical safety and access improvements."
The project will include a replication of the existing art-deco façade to maintain the original work in Lincoln Park. There also will be improved underpass and street lighting, along with new traffic signals synchronized with the signals east of Cannon Drive.
Although some trees will be removed, the Mayor's Office said they will be replaced by 122 new trees on a per-inch basis.
