Project Overview
An existing abandoned railroad bridge at Ashland Avenue was moved over one mile for use as the new multi-use trail, The 606, over Western Avenue. The superstructure was 70 feet long and 27 feet wide weighing over 400,000 pounds.
The required SPMT size, axle spacing, and temporary grillage was determined and the move was coordinated with the City of Chicago to allow street closures and lateral clearances. The adaptive re-use of the existing structure allowed for additional lanes of traffic along Western Avenue with a cost savings compared to a new superstructure design.
The bridge superstructure was lifted and moved from its original home on Ashland Avenue utilizing self-propelled modular transports (SPMTs) to an adjacent lot where the bridge steel was cleaned and coated. Once that work was completed, the bridge was relocated, again utilizing SPMTs, to its new location on Western Avenue located approximately 1.2 miles away.
The bridge was moved on a Sunday morning with lane closures along the route of Ashland Avenue south, to North Avenue west, to Western Avenue north to its final location. The total travel time for the bridge move was approximately 45 minutes and no issues or difficulties were encountered.
