A reader sends in the following pic and asks:"I am requesting your help in fixing what is literally a HUGE blight in the middle of Uptown that I have never seen addressed...that is the CTA tracks that go over Broadway at Leland...they look, especially the concrete one, not only like they are from the Byzantine era, but that they could be a huge safety issue with chunks of concrete possibly raining down on cars...."
UU Note: We've been railing on this very issue since back in November 2007. Sadly, it may take someone getting injured for the CTA to repair this viaduct. To their credit, they did do some sort of "patch" job in November of 2009.
Contacting the CTA and letting them know that this is an issue that needs to be addressed couldn't hurt.
Well, they're certainly an eyesore. As well, reinforcements in place at the Devon Street bridge suggest that crumbling concrete could be a cause for concern.
ReplyDeleteBut, is it possible that those bridges were designed with a huge safety factor? Are we really in trouble here (aesthetic issues aside)? Any civil engineers in the readership?
This could easliy be made into a campaign issue as well. There are TIF funds that could be used as well.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that the entire north main line looks like this, not just in Uptown ...
ReplyDeleteI can never understand why the city inspectors don`t shut down the line until this unsafe conditon is resolved. They sure make a big deal about porches falling down due to unsafe structual conditions. The Chicago way is until someone is killed or hurt, leave it alone. I hope these pictures can be sent to the proper government agency to voice a concern and get the CTA back on track.
ReplyDeleteAu contraire about the porches.
ReplyDeleteThere were recently some porch collapses. One in Lakeview on Ashland.
So yeah, you kindof have to twist their arm and they will declare a porch unsafe. But by no means is it some proactive gungho mission of the city.
It was for awhile, but still alot of problem porches out there.
Don't expect much more than cosmetic relief. With the RTA upgrading 22 overpasses on the Metra North line, and having a single track for north and south trains at various point over the repair time of several years, which will cause serious Metra delays, many northshore commuters will be switching to the red-line and and purple-line trains to avoid the congestion.
ReplyDeleteThe CTA and RTA cannot afford the double impact of re-doing the red-line at the same time as this project.
I'm pretty sure that section of track is part of the old service line and not the track currently in operation. Why don't they just remove this section of track since it is never going to be used again. No need to repair something that serves no purpose so tear it down I say.
ReplyDeleteButternut:
ReplyDeleteThe purple line uses this track.
Speaking as a structural engineer who has inspected CTA structures, I would not hesitate to ride the red line train. Now, as a person with a healthy aversion to human excrement, drug dealing, and aggressive panhandling - I do avoid certain stations.
ReplyDeleteCTA is in the unfortunate position of depending on public funding for its operations as well as infrastructure improvements (it costs more than $2.25 to get you from 95th to Howard). I believe the fact that our crumbling infrastructure is such a low priority to our goverment is a larger, longer term issue that needs patching.
It is obviously a hazard.....but it totally fits within the aesthetic of the sick 'ground zero' area near Wilson and Broadway.
ReplyDeleteTo think, a 'fish farm' would even be considered, when such infrastructure failures abound.....
I contacted the CTA through their web site and received the following response today: "Thank you for your feedback. We sent out a crew to inspect the area in question. We have been informed that the structure is sound and safe. Safety is the CTA’s top priority, so thank you for reporting this incident.
ReplyDeleteWe really appreciate your comments and assistance in keeping our valued customers, like you, safe.
CTA FEEDBACK TEAM"
I sent an email to the CTA regarding the deteriorating facade and received this reply:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback. We sent out a crew to inspect the area in question. We have been informed that the structure is sound and safe. Safety is the CTA’s top priority, so thank you for reporting this incident.
We really appreciate your comments and assistance in keeping our valued customers, like you, safe.
I highly doubt they sent a crew and if they did I'm sure no one did a professional study.