As requested yesterday, we have some progress photos taken last week of the Halsted Street Viaduct and Chicago Avenue Bridge projects, although the bridge is much easier to see. We don’t have a drone, but as has been mentioned here, there are overhead shots out there of the viaduct, and it has come a long way since demolition began last year.
Screengrab of the December 2025 34th Ward newsletter, confirming reports of December 2026 completion estimate.
Viaduct work from Chicago Avenue, just west of Halsted Street. Photo by Daniel Schell
Through the glass, you can see a portion of the replaced viaduct just north of Chicago Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
On Chicago Avenue, work is ongoing for the new bridge piers on either side of the Chicago River’s North Branch. The west side is a much busier and more involved project as it connects to the viaduct. The old east pier has been demolished and rebar and concrete work continues on the new one.
Bally’s Casino forms the backdrop for work on the Chicago Avenue Bridge’s west pier. Photo by Daniel Schell
Rebar for the east pier. Photo by Daniel Schell
Work on the east pier from the riverwalk. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
As was widely reported, both projects were expected to be done by the end of the year. There have been no announcements to the contrary, but it does seem the viaduct looks closer to that deadline than does the bridge. In the meantime, avoid driving through the are if at all possible. The street closures are not pleasant.
***Update, October 16, 2026: The Chicago Department of Transportation project site shows completion for Halsted Street in December of this year, with Chicago Avenue completion now expected in spring 2027.
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To my semi-trained eye it appears they are constructing the bridge on the land west of the river with the intention to ‘launch’ it over the water once complete. Can anyone confirm this?
my observations:
the area to the west is entirely shored up like a concrete deck pour, not matching the method of construction for the rest of the viaduct. It is at a much higher elevation than the rest of the viaduct. The foundation on the west of the river that would hold the arch is pointing west, not east as it would need to if that is its final location. there are blue sleeves sticking up as deck level to the west that would appear to be the spots to receive the cable stays from the bridge arch.
Is it me or does it look like the bridge decking iron work is being done on the West shore and they are going to lift it all into place, then pour the concrete.
I was thinking the same thing, Steve. The angle at with the steel is facing (on the west side, facing further west) reinforced that thought. Curious if that’s the plan or not
That is what I believe is the sequencing for the construction. They don’t have much clearance on the East Bank between the two buildings of the former Montgomery ward complex, so they are in fact assembling much of the ironwork for the Bridge deck on the West bank first, Lift it across, build the arches, and then pour the concrete to tie it all together. The other thing I read recently, maybe here, was that the bridge as designed will not be operable, but could be jacked up, on an occasional basis to increase the airdraft space for shippping. I read it as very occasionally, as it would close Chicago again during the duration of that work
I randomly golfed with an engineer on this project a few months ago and he generally confirmed this is the plan ^
Sounds like it will be one grand installation on that day!
Just in time to go to the Casino on NYE. !!!! HAHAHAHA
That is a bet you might lose.
There is a YouTuber, devodare_chicago, doing drone footage of Chicago construction projects you may find interesting.
Ballys also has a live feed of their construction that rotates through a few angles, one of which shows the west bank of the Chicago bridge.
maybe i need to change my name to Umarell.
Any updates on the Universal Studios haunted theme venue announced for a nearby site?
As far as I know, it’s being built out.