(Above) Chicago Water Taxi Bravo clears the Dearborn Street Bridge, lined with St. Patrick’s Day revelers, and passes Marina City shortly after the river was dyed green last Saturday. (Click on image to view larger version.)

March 16, 2016 – Eleven bridges over the Chicago River will be raised and lowered over two weeks starting Thursday, to make sure they are ready for the spring bridge lifts.

The bridge trials, requiring bridges to be closed to all traffic, will happen between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., as follows…

• March 17 – Washington Street Bridge
• March 18 – Randolph Street Bridge
• March 21 – Franklin Street Bridge
• March 22 – LaSalle Street Bridge
• March 23 – Clark Street Bridge
• March 24 – Dearborn Street Bridge
• March 28 – State Street Bridge
• March 29 – Wabash Avenue Bridge
• March 30 – Columbus Avenue Bridge

Also, the Michigan Avenue Bridge will be closed overnight, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., from March 31 to April 1. The Lake Shore Drive Bridge will be closed, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., from March 31 to April 1.

Chicago Department of Transportation made the announcement on Tuesday. CDOT also released its spring bridge lift schedule, which will run this year from April 16 through June 29. The bridge lifts allow sailboats to get from winter storage to Lake Michigan.

Saturdays starting at 8 a.m. on…

• April 16, 23
• May 7, 14, 21
• June 4, 11, 18, 25

Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. on…

• April 20
• May 4, 11, 18, 25
• June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29