Construction crews began drilling the foundation for a new viaduct at the Dempster Purple Line stop Monday, continuing a broader project secured by the City of Evanston over the summer.
In July, the Chicago Transit Authority board approved a $10.3 million construction contract for various Purple Line improvements in Evanston, including viaduct replacements at Grove, Dempster and Greenleaf streets. The contract also calls for repairing the CTA retaining wall along Chicago Avenue from Greenleaf Street to Hamilton Street.
Due to the ongoing construction, Dempster Street between Sherman Place and Sherman Avenue will remain closed through Nov. 18, according to the city’s website.
Although one sidewalk will remain open for pedestrians, motorists will have to head north on Maple Avenue, east on Greenwood Street and south on Chicago Avenue to detour the affected area.
The city is also informing residents the Dempster construction will cause “some noise from installation equipment, cranes and heavy truck activity.”
The peak hours of those potential disruptions are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays through Nov. 18 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 12, according to the city’s website.
Matt Swentkofske, the city’s intergovernmental affairs coordinator, said all fall work focuses on viaduct foundations and the actual bridges will not be installed until next spring.
The three viaducts will be built off-site and placed over a 48-hour weekend period in “approximately April or May,” he added.
Swentkofske said foundational work at the Grove Street viaduct is already complete and will start on the Greenleaf Street viaduct shortly after Thanksgiving.
Project updates can be found at www.cityofevanston.org/purpleline.
