The Sun Times reports that work has begun on the reconstruction of the bridge carrying Halsted Street over the Chicago River North Branch.  (This is the bridge just south of Division; not the bridge just north of Chicago Avenue.)  Halsted St. is a major north-south bikeway, and so in addition to motorists, cyclists should be aware that the project will shut down Halsted between Chicago and Division for one year.  No temporary bridge will be erected.

The new bridge – which cost $27M – will increase the number of travel lanes on the bridge from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction. The new bridge will include bike lanes on structure to maintain continuity with existing bike lanes on Halsted north and south of the bridge.