The 41st and 43rd Street Pedestrian Bridges were recognized with a 2024 National AIA Honor Award.

This project arose from "Bridging the Drive," an international design competition launched by the city of Chicago, this project has created two signature pedestrian bridges that link the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood with the Lake Michigan waterfront. They are the second and third of five planned bridge projects, all aimed at memorably connecting residents and visitors with the lake.

In the early 2000s, then-Mayor Richard M. Daley was impressed by the pedestrian-oriented infrastructure he experienced in Europe and sought to achieve something similar in his city. However, due to the complexities related to public infrastructure approvals, elections, and overall funding, it took nearly 15 years to begin construction of the 41st Street Bridge and nearly 20 year before the second bridge was completed.

Before the two bridges were built, residents were forced to travel a half mile to the nearest span, a narrow and corroded footbridge spanning nearby railroad tracks. The new bridges, designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities, and emergency services, link recently redeveloped neighborhoods on the west with a lakefront trail and 41st Street Beach. Both include ramps and stairs on either end, and their overall design minimizes their footprints in the adjacent parks while still bolstering accessibility.

Since their completion, the bridges have quickly become a popular and convenient way for Bronzeville residents to travel back and forth to the waterfront. They’ve also proven to be one of the city’s most popular destinations, where lakefront promenades, bike paths, and places to gather and socialize await all social and economic groups.

Project team:

Client: Chicago Department of Transportation

Architect: Cordogan, Clark & Associates

Lead Civil and Structural Design and Engineering Firm: AECOM

Landscape Architect: Terry Guen Design Associates
Construction Engineering Firm: TranSystems
Engineer — Structural: AECOM
Engineer — Structural: HBM Engineering Group
Engineer — Structural: Cordogan, Clark & Associates, Inc.
Engineer — Electrical: Singh & Associates
Engineer — Geotechnical: Ground Engineering Consultants
Engineer — Environmental: Kowalenko Consulting Group
General Contractor: F.H. Paschen