Fall bridge lift schedule announced

September 8, 2014 – 15 times this fall, all 18 bridges along the main and south branches of the Chicago River will be raised. The annual tradition allows sailboats to get from Lake Michigan to winter storage.

(Left) A sailboat passes under the raised DuSable Bridge in June.

The bridges will be lifted on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting on September 20 and concluding on November 15. According to Chicago Department of Transportation, it takes about 8-12 minutes to raise a bridge and less than two hours for all of the bridges to be lifted.

CDOT works with local boatyards to create a schedule that is minimally inconvenient to pedestrians and drivers.

(Times represent when the process starts at Lake Shore Drive.)

Saturday, September 20 – 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, September 24 – 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, September 27 – 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 1 – 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 8 – 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 11 – 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 15 – 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 18 – 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 22 – 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 25 – 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 29 – 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, November 1 – 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 5 – 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, November 12 – 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, November 15 – 9:00 a.m.