Chicago’s Congress Parkway bridge was upgraded and modernized with the help of rigging and lifting equipment from LGH.
Rehabilitating a 60-year-old bascule bridge in the heart of downtown Chicago is no small task—especially when the structure has never undergone a full overhaul.
That was the challenge facing Walsh Construction during the rehabilitation of the Congress Parkway Bascule Bridge. With daily vehicle traffic, scheduled marine navigation, and aging mechanical components to contend with, the team needed a lifting solution that prioritized safety, precision, and control.
To execute the work safely and efficiently, Walsh partnered with LGH for specialized lifting equipment, including air winches, sheave blocks, and telemetry crane scales.
Built in the 1950s as part of the national highway system, the Congress Parkway Bridge spans the Chicago River and serves as a key transportation artery.
Although minor repairs had been completed over the decades, the bridge had never received a full structural rehabilitation. By 2010, deterioration of the steel decking and mechanical components prompted the Illinois Department of Transportation to initiate a major upgrade.
Collins Engineering led the design effort, with Walsh Construction and Delgado Construction serving as key subcontractors. The scope included:
The objective was clear: extend the life of the structure while ensuring safe and reliable operation for decades to come.
The Congress Parkway Bridge consists of separate eastbound and westbound structures. During construction, one side had to remain open while the other underwent rehabilitation.
At the same time, river traffic could not stop. During the summer months, sailboats passed through twice per week, requiring the bridge to remain operational throughout construction.
Coordination with the Coast Guard was required weeks in advance for scheduled closures.
Bascule bridges operate like massive teeter-totters. Even small changes in weight distribution dramatically affect performance.
For example, placing a 10-pound piece of steel 100 feet from the pivot arm can have the same mechanical impact as placing a 1,000-pound piece just 10 feet from the pivot on the opposite side.
Every steel addition required recalculating balance, force, and counterweight effects.
Each 112-foot bridge leaf had to be raised to approximately 70 degrees, secured, and then lowered back down in a slow and controlled manner.
During boating season, three of the four bridge leaves were locked upright while crews worked 220 feet above the river. In winter, the spans were jacked in the opposite direction using 500-ton jacks, lifting them just a quarter inch to shift weight onto temporary supports for additional repairs.
The margin for error was minimal. Walsh’s Project Manager, Joe Q., said there were additional challenges that presented themselves during the course of the two-year project:
“The real challenge was keeping traffic flowing during the rehabilitation. Since the Congress Parkway Bridge has separate bridges for eastbound and westbound traffic, we had to keep one side open while working on the other side. During the construction, we had to maintain boat traffic. During the summer, sailboats passed through twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays, so we had to ensure that the bridges could be lifted upwards to allow the boats to cross. Keeping the bridge balanced proved challenging, too. Every time we added a piece of steel to the bridge, the weight of a 10-pound piece of steel placed 100 feet away from the pivot arm had the same impact as a 1,000-pound piece placed just 10 feet away from the pivot arm on the opposite side. So, all these little things because of the nature of the project became exasperated and had to be taken into account and reviewed.”
Walsh turned to LGH to engineer a controlled bridge lowering system.
The original request was for an extremely slow-speed winch capable of lowering the bridge at just 7 feet per minute. Instead, LGH recommended a more efficient setup that achieved the same controlled descent using mechanical advantage.
The winches were secured to a barge positioned 150 feet below the bridge. By multi-parting the line through double-sheaved blocks, the team reduced lowering speed while increasing control and minimizing the need for a higher-capacity winch.
This system provided:
Rather than simply supplying equipment, LGH provided guidance that optimized the entire lowering strategy.
These air-powered winches from LGH were used to help lower the bridge.
As part of the modernization, Walsh installed an Orthotropic Deck System to replace the aging open-grated decking.
This structural steel system features lighter-weight steel, smaller floor beams, ½-inch flat metal plates, and steel webbing underneath for support.
Unlike the previous open-grated system, the closed orthotropic deck prevents salt and chemicals from reaching the structural steel below. This significantly reduces corrosion and long-term maintenance requirements.
Each controlled lowering of the bridge leaves marked a major milestone.
“Finding a way to control the bridge lowering was a major achievement,” Joe said. “Each time we lowered a leaf, it was a success. When we needed to close the river, we coordinated with the Coast Guard weeks in advance to set time frames. Every time, the plan worked smoothly. We had backup plans in place, but fortunately, we never had to use them. Everything went off without a hitch, thanks to thorough preplanning and involving the right people, including LGH.”
Through careful preplanning, coordinated scheduling, and precise load control, Walsh successfully maintained traffic flow, river navigation, and structural balance throughout the two-year rehabilitation.
The project began in 2010 and concluded in 2012. Despite weather-related delays, it was completed within budget.
Today, the Congress Parkway Bascule Bridge stands as a reinforced, modernized structure—providing smoother traffic flow, improved durability, and reduced maintenance concerns for the City of Chicago.
Since completing this project, the City of Chicago has continued rehabilitating other bascule bridges, including Wells and Jackson Streets. In May 2015, the city awarded Walsh the contract for the Adams Street Bascule Bridge rehabilitation.
“I would absolutely work with LGH again,” Joe concluded. “The knowledge and expertise they brought to the table exceeded my expectations for a rental equipment company. They didn’t just supply what we requested; they recommended additional equipment to improve efficiency and explained why we needed it. LGH was more than a supplier; they were a true partner on this project.”
Walsh Construction is a subsidiary of The Walsh Group, a Chicago-based general contracting and design-build firm with more than a century of experience across building, civil, and transportation sectors.
LGH is North America’s largest organization devoted exclusively to lifting and moving equipment rental. With more than 90,000 pieces of hoisting, pulling, jacking, rigging, material handling, and safety equipment, LGH supports complex infrastructure projects nationwide.
Need controlled lifting equipment for a bridge rehabilitation project? Contact LGH today.
