CME.14 – A Moveable Bridge on the Move
Team Members Heading link
- Johanna Castro
- Jashua Flores
- Mary Jaine Gonzalez
- Aileen Ramirez
- Crystal Ramos
- Edgar Tagayuna
Project Description Heading link
Sitting on the northern branch of the Chicago River is the Carroll Avenue bridge, a single-leaf bascule bridge once used for railroad purposes. It’s now abandoned in an upright position. Although the bridge continues to represent the ingenuity of Chicago’s early engineers and their successes in structural integrity, its disuse now serves as merely a call of attention to architectural tours of passersby. Our group is advocating to relocate the bridge and restore it to a new location in the Lake Calumet area, specifically in the East Hammerhead to Big Marsh Park. We’ve conducted research and planning regarding its move and design at the new location and have created a proposal accordingly. At the new location in Big Marsh Park, the Carroll Avenue bridge will be repurposed to serve as a bicycle/pedestrian facility connecting a trail in Big Marsh Park. It will allow users to enjoy the surrounding environment and appreciate its historical significance. This project deals with sustainability, a subject that is always welcomed in the “greener” world– the project maximizes the use of the preexisting bridge and minimizes the amount of land and resources needed in the Lake Calumet community. We note that apart from designing a new foundation, the bridge will only have structural repairs and cosmetic repairs. “A Moveable Bridge on the Move” details the challenges and risks associated with the relocation and repurposing of the Carroll Avenue bridge and the necessary measures required. We have researched the relevant guides, codes, laws, and regulations and applied them appropriately – taking into consideration all the stakeholders involved. The repurposing of unused bridges through sustainable means for the betterment of communities is attainable and our project exemplifies just that.