Metra Construction
The Metra/Union Pacific North Line improvement project is moving forward. This is a $225 million improvement project that will include the replacement of 11 bridges, installation of new track, and the construction of a new Ravenswood station at Lawrence Ave. The project is scheduled to be completed over the next 8 years.
Metra and their project team held meetings, presenting the following overview of the project:
- Planned replacement of 11 bridges, Balmoral to Grace
- Related improvements to track bed and retaining wall
- Reconstruction of Ravenswood Station
- Retention in service of two tracks during the project
- Installation of landscaping and other aesthetic improvements in recognition of community's longstanding beautification efforts
- Creation where feasible of "greenway" along West Ravenswood Avenue with sloped embankments in lieu of concrete, vertical retaining walls, with ongoing landscape maintenance to be undertaken at a community level as has been done historically
- Conversion of certain segments of West Ravenswood Avenue from two-way to one-way traffic to allow for a landscaped embankment which also provides the necessary level of track bed structural support
Bridge construction has started on Sunnyside, Berteau and Grace Streets. The structural, roadway, and landscaping work on the west side of the tracks will follow in the coming years. We will be posting detour route plans as they are finalized
- Sunnyside Area [Board 5] Detour map [Sunnyside Full Closure]
- Berteau Area [Board 7] Detour map [Berteau Full Closure]
- Grace Area [Board 8] Detour map [Grace Full Closure]
Landscaping Plan https://acrobat.com/#d=XetqYL2JgKCuGO1gjmVzJw
Next year bridge work will begin on some of the other intersections next year though a few are still being assessed. Here are the full project details on the other locations.
- Montrose Area [Board 6]
- Wilson Area [Board 4]
- Winnemac Area [Board 2]
- Foster Area [Board 1]
After the bridges are rebuilt and tracks moved, the train station will be rebuilt on the south side of Lawrence. Here are the project details on this area and a conceptual drawing of what the station would look like.
- Station Area [Board 3]
- Station Rendering [Ravenswood layout]
Please check back to this page for more information on the project as it moves forward.