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* Whew…
Infrastructure isn't sexy, but it is important.
This morning a piece of a concrete retaining wall on CTA property fell and crushed two cars. Luckily, no one was injured.
Red and Purple Line trains will continue to operate normally. https://t.co/4lv1zoyWl1
— Jonathan Ballew (@JCB_Journo) April 18, 2019
* From the story…
Irene Ferradaz, spokesperson for the CTA, said a “small portion of the East retaining wall fell away from the viaduct structure.”
Crews arrived Thursday morning to check the area for any structural issues and they reported none.
Ferradaz said the concrete experienced “spalling,” where pieces can flake and fall off.
“This happens with older concrete,” she said. “CTA workers removed the debris and are checking the surrounding structures and have found no other issues.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:03 pm
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Try not to think about this if you’re walking through the viaduct connecting the west remote lots to Cominskey.
That thing has looked like its about to collapse for 20 years.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:17 pm
““spalling,” where pieces can flake and fall off.”
What? Huh? I think when a piece of concrete crushes a car, it is a mite bigger than a flake.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:18 pm
Make Infrastructure Sexy Again! (MISA)
Comment by MISA Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:21 pm
You know what’s sexy? Concrete from a retaining wall not crushing your car.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:33 pm
You know the pension perfidy Raun…I mean Pritzker pulled makes me
Doubt
ANY
Capital Bill
Hire Doug House, placate the AFL-CIO, make as many promises as you want.
“never mistake activity for achievement”
(did I say that right?)
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:38 pm
==Try not to think about this if you’re walking through the viaduct connecting the west remote lots to Cominskey==
This was my first thought.
One thing I’ve noticed is roads beneath railroad underpasses can be severely potholed even though the road up to and after may not be otherwise. Is the railroad responsible for the road underneath? Or some other reason for this scenario?
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:42 pm
Glad no one was hurt with this one.
There’s a ton of viaducts on the far north side with exposed rebar just out enjoying the weather. I’ve been told they’re still structurally sound, but I think I might start jogging when I go under them now.
And if it’s this bad in the city, then I don’t want to know what the bridges are looking like where I grew up in Central Illinois. Less traffic, but those crop and livestock trucks aren’t light.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 2:57 pm
rich should get these posts sponsored by some construction association
Comment by intern Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:00 pm
Without any doubt our roads and bridges have been neglected for far too many years.
However, there are times when many of us feel that money is being spent foolishly on roads and bridges. Case in point - a state highway is being closed for a year and the bridge replaced ( major work on the bridge was completed less than 10 years ago ) just to raise the level to the point that a 50 year flood will not flow over the road and bridge. I am close to 70 and can never remember this happening. The Million Dollars being spent could have been better used on other local projects that are more deserving in my opinion.
Comment by illini Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:20 pm
===Is the railroad responsible for the road underneath? Or some other reason for this scenario?===
Every railroad bridge is different depending on the agreement they were built under. But usually the roadway underneath is a continuation of maintenance of the agency owning the street.
Reminds me of a central IL town where the railroad lowered their tracks and agreed to build some bridges across the tracks in the 1920’s. When it came time that the bridges were so dilapidated that they needed to be replaced, the state tried to get the railroad to do so, and they counter-offered to replace them to 1920’s standards, LOL. Eventually the state kicked in some money and they were rebuilt correctly.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:20 pm
Took one look at the picture and almost instantaneously knew where it happened; about four blocks from where I grew up in Rogers Park!
Comment by Retired SURS Employee Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:20 pm
Who says “infrastructure isn’t sexy?”
In this state (and many others) the latest Victoria’s Secret catalogue has nothing on a sexy capital bill.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:27 pm
I release the branding rights to Make Infrastructure Sexy Again (MISA) to anyone who can get a capital bill passed.
The branding can be put on any article of clothing other than red hats.
Comment by MISA Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:43 pm
I ride Metra. They have 800 bridges and 400 of them are over 100 years old…..some still made of timber. The car I physically ride on daily was delivered when Eisenhower was President. We needed a capital bill 25 years ago!!!!
Comment by Metra Rider Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 3:57 pm
===Is the railroad responsible for the road underneath? Or some other reason for this scenario?===
You are correct 6 degrees. The issue is an overlay would raise the street elevation, and most bridge clearances are substandard. And reconstructing the pavement to a lower profile may cause flooding during severe storms. Think Hubbards Cave.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 4:08 pm
Generally the railroad worries about the viaduct and doesn’t give a damn what’s underneath. Hence why they look like caves from hell. Daley did alot of painting and other improvements by shaming them into helping. Don’t think Hubbards Cave, think North Avenue at the Kennedy. If you raise the bridge very expensive because the run out for the railroad grades in a switching area is $$$. Very expensive to lower the pavement because of a deep tunnel entrance. So everyone threw up their hands years ago and every few days we have yet another truck that is opened up like a can of tuna when they can’t make it through. We need a capital bill and all of us have to pay for it.
Comment by Denise Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 4:24 pm
A TIF district was created 2 years ago to address the Red line. Chicago needed to match $2B in Fed funds to redo the entire northside. Interestingly they modified the TIF so that no funds are diverted from CPS. Capital is already allocated for this project.
Comment by jeffingnotinChicago Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 4:39 pm
Spalling is when gravel pops-out from the surface of cured concrete (usually taking some of the cement and sand with it). It is unattractive, but doesn’t materially affect the concrete’s strength. When rebar is exposed, that’s the beginning of structural failure.
Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 4:59 pm
Basically, concrete spalling happens because of moisture intrusion thereby introducing issues with freeze/thaw, coupled by the fact that rust is a lot more voluminous than steel. That’s why you can see large sized “blowouts”.
Comment by Cadillac Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 5:56 pm
City of Zen,
Those aren’t potholes nowadays, they’re impact craters from spalling …
Comment by LINK Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 6:10 pm
If only there was something our elected officials could do to work on this problem. But they’re all way too busy with more important things like reading the Mueller Report.
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 6:37 pm
–If only there was something our elected officials could do to work on this problem. But they’re all way too busy with more important things like reading the Mueller Report.–
You really need to turn off the TV. You’re seeing everything through a Fox and Friends prism.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 18, 19 @ 9:27 pm