Project Description
Situated below Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, the 360-foot long 13th Street upper tunnel has seen an increase in loads from Lake Shore Drive. The tunnel houses several vital power, water, and communication lines for the nearby Field Museum. In an effort to alleviate this load increase and prevent future concrete deterioration of the aging tunnel, the structure is reinforced by a series of steel ribs designed to brace the tunnel walls and roof and increase the tunnel’s structural capacity. As a member of the project team, our scope of services included inspection of the existing tunnel, documentation of deterioration, structural analysis and design of the steel rib reinforcement, review of shop drawings and engineering support during site installation of the steel ribs.