Your work commute in Chicago is about to look a little different.
The Windy City’s annual bridge lift season begins this week.
Here’s what it means for your daily trip downtown.
Bridge lifts begin Wednesday
Starting Wednesday, April 22, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will conduct daily lifts of each of the 27 bridges along the main and south channels of the Chicago River.
CDOT will raise all bridges between South Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive on a twice-weekly schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The lifts are designed to accommodate recreational boat traffic as owners move their vessels to and from winter storage areas in time for the spring/summer boating season.
Each bridge lift will take approximately 8-12 minutes, according to CDOT. Lifts will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays and 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.
During each lift, street traffic between the bridges will be halted.
CDOT advises motorists to remain alert and exercise added caution near the bridge lifts to ensure safety for all involved.
View the full lift schedule and learn more information here.