October 13, 2015 – Once again, the Wells Street Bridge will be closed and raised all weekend. The bridge needs to be raised to accommodate a crane and drilling rig that will install caissons – steel cylinders to support the Riverwalk as it passes under the bridge.

The bridge will be closed to all traffic from Saturday at 2 a.m. to Monday at 4 a.m.

Southbound traffic on Wells Street will be detoured onto Illinois Street, LaSalle Street, and Wacker Drive. CTA Brown Line service will be affected.

The Wells Street Bridge was previously closed in late September. (Left) Mud and rock debris is brought up by a drilling rig east of Franklin Street.

Reilly ordinance allows sale of wine by bottle

A new city ordinance will allow sale of wine by the bottle on the Riverwalk.

42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly introduced the ordinance on July 29 and it was passed by the city council on September 24.

The ordinance allows Riverwalk venues with a liquor license to sell wine by the bottle for consumption off-site under certain conditions – such as not before 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m. – and the bottle cannot be accompanied by a “drinking container or corkscrew or other opening device.”

The ordinance took effect immediately.

(Below) Closer view of drill attachment.