KEEPING THE CHICAGO SKYWAY OPEN

This article details how a barrier system functioned during construction on the 8-mile long, six lane tollway called the Chicago Skyway. Plans required a complete redecking, rebuilding the earthen roadway, and new overpasses. But builders also wanted to maintain a high level of service since the road heads north into Chicago, making a complete, nighttime shutdown impossible. Engineers performed traffic control through moveable concrete barriers adjusted twice daily, augmented by 11 monitoring cameras and personnel in vehicles. Usage dropped three to ten percent despite a 50 percent reduction in capacity.