FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2012 Contact: Pete Scales, CDOT 312-744-0707

CHICAGO - Due to the continuation of repair work on the Chicago Lock by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through April, the Spring 2012 lift season for the movable bridges over the Chicago River will begin later than usual on Wednesday, May 2nd. In order to address the abbreviated schedule caused by the repair work on the lock, CDOT will conduct additional lifts on select Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings in May. Each year, in the spring and fall, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) raises the movable bridges along the South and Main Branches of the Chicago River to accommodate recreational boats traveling to and from their storage yards.

SPRING BRIDGE LIFTS TO BEGIN IN EARLY MAY Repair of Chicago Lock Calls for Abbreviated Schedule and Additional Lifts

CDOT coordinates with local boat storage yards each year to create a schedule that accommodates boats while creating the least amount of impact on downtown street traffic, said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein.

During these spring and fall boat runs, bridges are raised sequentially, typically one at a time. Each bridge lift takes an average of 8-12 minutes. This spring, 27 bridges will be lifted in order beginning in the morning at the Ashland Avenue Bridge on the South Branch to Lake Shore Drive. The flotilla of boats usually arrives downtown at the bridges on the Main Branch around noon or 1p.m. The Spring 2012 bridge lift schedule is as follows: Wednesday, May 2nd at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5th at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 6th at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 8th at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 10th at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12th at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 13th at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 15th at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 17th at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24th at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 30th at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2nd at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 6th at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 9th at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 13th at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16th at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 20th at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 23rd at 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 27th at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 30th at 8 a.m.