New 43rd Street pedestrian bridge opens in Bronzeville
CHICAGO (CBS) -- City officials celebrated the opening of the new 43rd Street Pedestrian Bridge over DuSable Lake Shore Drive on Wednesday.
It's a fully accessible pedestrian and bicycle bridge further connecting the Bronzeville neighborhood to the lakefront. It's located just south of the 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge that opened in 2018, and the 35th Street Pedestrian Bridge that opened in 2016. Before those bridges opened, Bronzeville and Kenwood residents had limited options for accessing the lakefront between 31st Street and 47th Street.
The new 43rd Street bridge replaces a deteriorating pedestrian bridge that wasn't accessible to bikes, wheelchairs, or emergency vehicles.
The $36 million project was paid for with state and federal funds.
Its the fourth of five new or rebuilt bridges over Lake Shore Drive on the South Side since 2016. In addition to the new 35th Street, 41st Street, and 43rd Street pedestrian bridges, the city also has renovated the 39th Street vehicle bridge, including new bike lanes and sidewalks; and similar renovations are underway for the 31st Street vehicle bridge.