City Begins Work On North End Of Lakefront Trail

CHICAGO, IL — The city began working on the next section of the Lakefront Trail separation project Monday morning. Mayor Rahm Emanuel broke ground on the project's next phase, which will continue to split the trail into separate bike and pedestrian paths from Montrose to Ardmore. The full 18-mile trail separation is expected to be done by the end of this year, the city said.

“The Lakefront Trail Separation project creates a more enjoyable experience for the thousands of people that use the path each day, and it will ensure that our children will inherit an even more vibrant, more prosperous and more inclusive Chicago than ever before,” the mayor said in a media release.

Last year, the city split other sections of the trail: between Fullerton and North Avenues, 31st to 41st Streets and Oak to Ohio Streets.

Chicago’s Lakefront Trail is one of the busiest in the country. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people per day use the trail during summer weekends, according to a recent study by Chicago Area Runners Association and the Active Transportation Alliance.

A $12 million donation is funding the trail separation project.

Image via Google Maps Streetview