Western Avenue Bridge

Illinois Department of Transportation

$13 million

Phase II and III Engineering

BLA provided Phase II and III engineering on behalf of IDOT for repairs to the truss span and north approach of the bridge carrying Western Avenue over the Cal-Sag Channel, Metra Rock Island railroad line, Broadway Street and Canal Street, a $13 million improvement. The limits went from south of the south approach of the truss bridge over the Cal-Sag Channel to north of the north approach structure for a length of 1,800 feet. The project included welded plate girders with multiple piers and extensive traffic control for pier and abutment construction. The truss span required structural steel repairs, deck repairs and deck joint replacement. The north approach structure required concrete repairs and deck joint replacement. All work was done using stage construction. Monitoring requirements were necessary for the adjacent buildings for settlement during construction as several buildings were less than two feet from the bridge parapet.