City installs barriers to protect roads, beaches, and paths from rising water levels

In a move to protect Chicago’s beaches and lakefront trail from a near record high water levels, the city will install hundreds of yards of concrete jersey barriers at eight locations along Lake Michigan, the Chicago Department of Transportation announced.

The temporary walls will line Lake Shore Drive between Oak Street to North Avenue and at Fullerton Avenue. Further north, barriers are headed to Juneway Beach, Rogers Beach, Howard Beach, and Granville Street. South Side sites include 49th to 50th Street and 75th Street.

Installation began Tuesday evening, and CDOT crews are hope to complete the work by the end of September. In the meantime, motorists are urged to use caution and may encounter overnight lane closures as workers use equipment to drop the heavy barriers into place.

The dividers, it is hoped, will mitigate further damage at flood-prone locations this fall and winter. Over the summer, high water took a heavy toll on much of Chicago’s lakefront. Waves eroded—and even swallowed up—a number of Park District beaches, as documented by the Chicago Tribune.

“We know that this threat isn’t new to our city,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a recent statement, “In fact, high lake levels have been an ongoing issue that historically have caused serious damage to our lakefront infrastructure and beaches while also posing a continuous threat to pedestrian and traffic safety.”

“We are constantly monitoring the lake’s water levels and creating solutions for potential flooding, and I am proud to be working with many partners both city and statewide on this effort to mitigate damage and maintain the beauty of the lakefront, while also ensuring the safety of residents.”

Lake Michigan is up six feet since 2013 and rose 15 inches over the past year alone, according to the National Weather Service. The lake last reached this level in 1986 and significantly impacted Lake Shore Drive and Sheridan Road.