Riverwalk pile installation to finish by May 23, says CDOT

3-May-14 – (Left) From a construction barge on the Chicago River west of State Street, workers building the Chicago Riverwalk install piles on Friday. The crane at left is holding up a steel “H pile” at right as a hydraulic hammer above it pounds it into the riverbed.

At lower right are sheet piles that will form the wall of the Riverwalk.

The aerial lift was being used to help workers inspect and adjust the hydraulic line seen dangling to the left of the H pile. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

On Friday, CDOT construction manager Oswaldo Chaves said all of the piles would be installed from State Street to LaSalle Street by May 23. They are still removing old concrete and installing tie rods and walers that will hold the river wall in place.

Coming up during the week of May 12, work will start on the drilled shafts, which are deep holes filled with reinforced concrete to support the weight of the Riverwalk.

(Right) The settled H pile, seen the next day from the State Street Bridge.

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