Cracked concrete on new CTA flyover bridge discovered, but agency says it’s safe
Written by RT&S Staff
Federal Transit Administration
Back in November, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) celebrated the opening of a Brown Line flyover rail bridge near the Belmont Station.
Today, the public might be thinking about the structure’s closing.
The flyover bridge is part of the $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line modernization project, and spots of broken concrete and rebar can be seen from street level. Crews plan on fixing the bridge, and constant inspections show no structural damage where transit service would have to be shut down. The CTA said in a statement the problem is a quality issue related to the work performed by prime contractor Walsh-Fluor. The agency added it was likely caused by water entering sections of the bypass and freezing.
Northbound Brown Line trains use the flyover to cross above Red and Purple line tracks north of Belmont Station in Lakeview in an effort to ease train congestion in the area.
The sections of broken concrete will be fixed in the coming weeks at no cost to CTA.
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