Granite Begins ~$138M Rehabilitation Of Chicago's Historic Lake Street Bascule Bridge

Author: Benzinga Newsdesk | October 21, 2025 03:50pm

Granite (NYSE:GVA) has begun construction of an approximately $138 million rehabilitation project, awarded by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) for the iconic Lake Street Bascule Bridge in Chicago, Illinois. The project received funding from CDOT and was added to Granite's first quarter CAP.

Originally built in 1916, this landmark double-deck, double-leaf, moveable bridge plays a vital role in Chicago's transportation network, carrying vehicles, pedestrians, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses on its lower level, and CTA's Green and Pink Line trains on its upper level. Granite will construct the bridge to match the look of the original structure and preserve its historical appearance within the community.

The rehabilitation project encompasses several key improvements, including full replacement of the double-decked trunnion bascule bridge over the Chicago River. In addition to necessary substructure rehabilitation, the project includes replacement of the upper bridge level CTA tracks and upgrades to the movable bridge mechanical and electrical systems. The project also features restoration of the historic bridge houses, while maintaining the significant architectural character of the landmark.

A key highlight of working on the world's first double-deck trunnion bascule bridge is that construction of the new bridge leaves will occur off-site, and each leaf will be transported to its permanent location during separate "float-in" outages. To facilitate installation, two 12-day CTA Green and Pink Line service outages are planned for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Throughout the project duration, the team must maintain the functional operation of one bridge leaf as required by federal regulations and the United States Coast Guard.

Posted In: GVA