September 20, 2009 – The fall schedule of bridge lifts got underway over the weekend. CDOT will raise Chicago’s moveable bridges 15 more times between now and November 14.

Federal law says the bridges have to be open to boat traffic. Chicago Department of Transportation works with local boatyards to create a schedule that gets recreational boats to and from Lake Michigan without inconveniencing street traffic more than necessary.

Bridges are lifted on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting at Lake Michigan and continuing down the main and south branches of the Chicago River. It takes about 8-12 minutes to raise a bridge, according to the CDOT web site, and less than two hours for all of the bridges to be lifted.

(Left) Sailboats pass under the State Street Bridge in Chicago, returning from summer moorings for winter storage.