Illinois Coastal Management Federal Consistency Review for Division Street Bridge Over the North Branch Canal
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Illinois Coastal Management Federal Consistency Review for Division Street Bridge over the North Branch Canal for CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF ENGINEERING DIVISION STREET BRIDGES AND ROADWAY REPLACEMENT CDOT PROJECT NO. E-1-022 CITY OF CHICAGO Prepared By WSP USA 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4200 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Date: 06/22/2021 June 22, 2021 Federal Consistency Coordinator, Illinois Coastal Management Program IDNR/OWR 60 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 703 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Subject: Federal Consistency Determination Reconstruction of the Division Street Bascule Bridge over the North Branch Canal at Mile 2.99 from Lake Michigan Existing Temporary Bridge (Permit 5-14-9 & 5a-14-9) Proposed Structure No. 016-6209 CDOT Project No. E-1-022 Attention: Mr. James P. Casey Dear Mr. Casey: Application is hereby made by the City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) at 2 N. LaSalle St., Suite 820, Chicago, IL 60602 as the owner of the bridge located at 829 W. Division Street for a federal consistency review with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program, of the location and plans for a fixed span thrust arch bridge to be constructed in place of the existing temporary bridge across the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River. Project Location North Branch Canal of the Chicago River, 2.99 miles from the west end of the Chicago Lock in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Latitude: 41°-53’-18’’ N Longitude: 87°-36’-28” W See Attachment 1 for project vicinity and location maps. Project Description The original bridge structure was a moveable bascule bridge that was in serious condition and was replaced in 2014 with a temporary bridge, which now needs to be replaced since the bridge was only designed for temporary use. The proposed improvements now include the replacement of the existing temporary bridge with a fixed span bridge. The proposed bridge over the North Branch Canal is a thrust arch structure. Work on the roadway approaches to the new bridge structure will include resurfacing and reconstruction, sidewalk reconstruction and curb and gutter replacement. The elevation of the canal and river surface at the bridge sites is controlled by a system of locks operated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The North Branch Canal has not been used by major commercial vessels since the early 1980s and the existing bascule bridge has not required opening for maritime use in more than thirty years. The Halsted Street bascule bridge, located immediately to the south, was removed and replaced with a new tied arch structure. The current vertical clearance of the Halsted structure is 12.38’ above the Low Water Datum which will dictate the minimum vertical clearance of all upstream structures on the North Branch Canal. In order to minimize the impacts on traffic along Division Street during construction, a temporary bridge and a runaround will be installed to the north of the existing structure. Temporary piers will be located within the waterway while maintaining the existing clear channel width. Barge mounted equipment will be required for the construction and removal of the existing structure. The proposed activity complies with Illinois’ approved coastal management program and will be conducted in a manner consistent with such policies. The bridge construction is expected to start in Q2 of 2022 and complete in Q2 of 2024. City of Chicago funds will be used for this project. United States Coast Guard permit application review is ongoing. For your convenience, we have enclosed USCG Bridge Permit Application package, see Attachment 2. The attached application and supporting documentation are provided for your review. Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the Project Manager, Soliman Khudeira at (312) 744-9605. Sincerely, Soliman Khudeira, Ph.D., P.E., S.E. Section Chief – Major Projects CDOT – Division of Engineering Enclosures cc: Burke, Khudeira, WSP, Lochner ATTACHMENT #1 VICINITY AND LOCATION MAP EXISTING AND PROPOSED DIVISION STREET BRIDGE OVER NORTH BRANCH CANAL MILEPOINT 2.99 016-6209 Date of Signature: 2/10/2021 License Expiration Date: 11/30/2022 02/10/2021 SHEET 1 OF 6 H.W. LOCHNER ATTACHMENT #2 COAST GUARD BRIDGE PERMIT APPLICATION PACKAGE Bridge Permit Application Reconstruction of the Division Street Bridge Over the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River At Mile 2.99 (4.81 km) from Chicago Lock Existing Structure No. 016-6015 Existing Temporary Bridge Proposed Structure No. 016-6209 CDOT Project No. E-1-022 December 17, 2020 Commander (obr) Ninth Coast Guard District 1240 East Ninth Street, Room 2047 Cleveland, Ohio 44199-2060 Subject: Bridge Permit Application Reconstruction of the Division Street Bascule Bridge over the North Branch Canal at Mile 2.99 from Lake Michigan Existing Structure No. 016-6015 Existing Temporary Bridge (Permit 5-14-9 & 5a-14-9) Proposed Structure No. 016-6209 CDOT Project No. E-1-022 Attention: Mr. Blair Stanifer Chief, Bridge Branch Dear Mr. Stanifer: Application is hereby made by the City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) at 2 N. LaSalle St., Suite 820, Chicago, IL 60602 as the owner of the bridge located at 829 W. Division Street for approval by the Commandant, United States Coast Guard, of the location and plans for a fixed span thrust arch bridge to be constructed in place of the existing temporary bridge across the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River, 2.99 miles from the west end of the Chicago Lock (41°-53’-18’’ N, 87°-36’-28” W) in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Project Description The original bridge structure was a moveable bascule bridge that was in serious condition and was replaced in 2014 with a temporary bridge, which now needs to be replaced since the bridge was only designed for temporary use. The proposed improvements now include the replacement of the existing temporary bridge with a fixed span bridge. The proposed bridge over the North Branch Canal is a thrust arch structure. Work on the roadway approaches to the new bridge structure will include resurfacing and reconstruction, sidewalk reconstruction and curb and gutter replacement. The elevation of the canal and river surface at the bridge sites is controlled by a system of locks operated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The North Branch Canal has not been used by major commercial vessels since the early 1980s and the existing bascule bridge has not required opening for maritime use in more than thirty years. The Halsted Street bascule bridge, located immediately to the south, was removed and replaced with a new tied arch structure. The current vertical clearance of the Halsted structure is 12.38’ above the Low Water Datum which will dictate the minimum vertical clearance of all upstream structures on the North Branch Canal. In order to minimize the impacts on traffic along Division Street during construction, a temporary bridge and a runaround will be installed to the north of the existing structure. Temporary piers will be located within the waterway while maintaining the existing clear channel width. Barge mounted equipment will be required for the construction and removal of the existing structure. Protected Species The IDNR provided a Consultation Closure Letter for the project on July 17, 2018. The proposed project does not appear to have an impact on federally threatened or endangered species, which is documented in the enclosed Section 7 Evaluation. Other Agency Coordination Section 106 sign-off was given for the removal of the bascule bridge and a Memorandum of Agreement among the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) was agreed upon in May 2014 (see Enclosure #3). City of Chicago funds will be used for this project. Federal Agencies which must grant approvals, easements, or other actions for this project include: · Federal Highway Administration – The initial meeting was held on February 7, 2011. The project is classified as a Group II Categorical Exclusion. The Project Development Report was submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for their review and approval by IDOT and FHWA. · US Army Corps of Engineers – A Joint Permit Application Form was submitted on October 19, 2020. The bridge will have no significant effect on the human environment. A Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment describing these effects has been prepared (see Enclosure #3). There are no publicly owned lands from a park, recreational area, or wildlife or waterfowl refuge, or any land from a historic (including archaeological) site, in the way of the fixed span arch bridge, in either the vicinity or the approaches of the structure. For your convenience, we have enclosed all previous correspondences with the Coast Guard along with permit for the temporary bridge placement (see Enclosure #5). The project will not result in displacement or relocations of residences or businesses and will not affect minority or low-income populations under the Environmental Justice requirements. The attached application and supporting documentation are provided for your review. Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the Project Manager, Soliman Khudeira at (312) 744-9605. Sincerely, Soliman Khudeira, Ph.D., P.E., S.E. Section Chief – Major Projects CDOT – Division of Engineering Enclosures cc: Burke, Khudeira, WSP, Lochner ENCLOSURE #1 BRIDGE PERMIT APPLICATION Coast Guard Bridge Permit Application for Proposed SN 016-6209 Dear Sir: Application is hereby made for a Coast Guard bridge permit. A. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NAVIGATION INFORMATION 1. Application Date: 12/17/2020 a. Applicant information: Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) 1) Name: Soliman Khudeira, PhD, PE, SE, Section Chief - Major Projects 2) Address: 2 N. LaSalle St., Suite 820, Chicago, IL.