The Chainlink

Has anyone else noticed the new style of rough, hard, concrete patching that is being done and apparently accepted by the City of Chicago, often obliterating existing bike routes.

Clark St. between Howard and Devon used to be a prime commuting route for me.  In spite of many lights, they were well synchronized and you could make really good time on that part of the commute.  Not so good in the evening but a great morning route.

That was until last year when some utilty tore up the street right in the bike lane and replaced it not with asphalt, but with this hard concrete.  The crew that did the patch made not the slightest attempt to smooth their work out and now Clark is basically unrideable.

Now another bike lane that was part of my commute, Pratt Blvd., has gotten the same treatment.

So while the city, to great fanfare, introduces new protected bike lanes in some part of the city, they fail to enforce basic street-paving standards and lose bike lanes that have served us well for years.

Views: 2774

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Since these are "dedicated" Bike Lanes, Boub wouldn't appear to apply and bicycles would considered to be intended users of these streets.  Wouldn't that, in turn, make the city responsible for all of the resultant damage?  i would think enough claims against the City might get them to respond.  (Or they might "retaliate" by taking off the Bike Lanes and Boub-ing the City....)

Active Transportation Alliance said:

Thanks Steve and everyone for this great thread!

Active Trans is committed to maintaining the existing network of bike lanes even as we advocate for new lanes and other improvements around the city.  Here’s a little bit of background and some actions you can all take to help address the issues raised here, which I hope you find helpful!

The issue of utility work leaving bike lanes in rough shape is a long-standing one.  We’ve spoken with CDOT about it many times over the years, both generally and about specific streets, and will continue to do so.  But it’s an issue that’s bigger than just CDOT with lots of other agencies and contractors doing work on our streets that can lead to the kinds of problems documented in this thread. 

Historically, there has not been much coordination among all of the agencies/contractors.  This can lead to poor road conditions and inefficient use of public resources.  We’ve heard that some groups have begun to meet and are starting to coordinate, so hopefully year-long gaps between work being completed and street conditions being restored will become less of an issue going forward.  This is something we’ll continue to monitor and appreciate your input and feedback wherever possible.

But the bottom line is that we have a right to expect our streets to be restored to their previous condition in a timely manner after work is completed.  We’ll continue to raise the issue, but it’s also critically important for residents to make their voices heard by reporting inadequate street conditions to the city and their alderman – which both demonstrates public concern and generates hard data the city can use to improve its services.

Here are a few things you can do to report inadequately restored streets:

1. Report it via 311 – use the “street cut complaint” category. More complaints will help to document with real data that there is a real problem the city needs to address: http://311request.cityofchicago.org/reports/new?service_id=4ffa995a...

2. Contact your alderman about it. Find who that is here: https://webapps3.cityofchicago.org/StickerOnlineWeb/pageflows/wardL...

3. Contact CDOT at cdotbikes@cityofchicago.org

Thanks again,

Jim Merrell - Active Trans

I tried repeatedly to use the 311request URL, but it never liked the location information I entered, no matter how precise I was.  Not being a Chicago resident, it didn't seem right that I look up an alderman.  I finally sent an email to the CDOT email address pointing out the problems with Wells through Old Town and Clark through Rogers Park.

Active Transportation Alliance said:

Here are a few things you can do to report inadequately restored streets:

1. Report it via 311 – use the “street cut complaint” category. More complaints will help to document with real data that there is a real problem the city needs to address: http://311request.cityofchicago.org/reports/new?service_id=4ffa995a...

2. Contact your alderman about it. Find who that is here: https://webapps3.cityofchicago.org/StickerOnlineWeb/pageflows/wardL...

3. Contact CDOT at cdotbikes@cityofchicago.org

Just a further clarification some of my colleagues here at Active Trans shared with me, and which Anne Alt already linked to in a previous post, there is an active initiative to better coordinate among agencies doing road/utility work which you can read about here: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/constructio...

Jim - Active Trans


Active Transportation Alliance said:

Thanks Steve and everyone for this great thread!

Active Trans is committed to maintaining the existing network of bike lanes even as we advocate for new lanes and other improvements around the city.  Here’s a little bit of background and some actions you can all take to help address the issues raised here, which I hope you find helpful!

The issue of utility work leaving bike lanes in rough shape is a long-standing one.  We’ve spoken with CDOT about it many times over the years, both generally and about specific streets, and will continue to do so.  But it’s an issue that’s bigger than just CDOT with lots of other agencies and contractors doing work on our streets that can lead to the kinds of problems documented in this thread. 

Historically, there has not been much coordination among all of the agencies/contractors.  This can lead to poor road conditions and inefficient use of public resources.  We’ve heard that some groups have begun to meet and are starting to coordinate, so hopefully year-long gaps between work being completed and street conditions being restored will become less of an issue going forward.  This is something we’ll continue to monitor and appreciate your input and feedback wherever possible.

But the bottom line is that we have a right to expect our streets to be restored to their previous condition in a timely manner after work is completed.  We’ll continue to raise the issue, but it’s also critically important for residents to make their voices heard by reporting inadequate street conditions to the city and their alderman – which both demonstrates public concern and generates hard data the city can use to improve its services.

Here are a few things you can do to report inadequately restored streets:

1. Report it via 311 – use the “street cut complaint” category. More complaints will help to document with real data that there is a real problem the city needs to address: http://311request.cityofchicago.org/reports/new?service_id=4ffa995a...

2. Contact your alderman about it. Find who that is here: https://webapps3.cityofchicago.org/StickerOnlineWeb/pageflows/wardL...

3. Contact CDOT at cdotbikes@cityofchicago.org

Thanks again,

Jim Merrell - Active Trans

Thanks Steve for the list of things we can do to report street surface problems.

I did fill out a "street cut complaint" via http://311request.cityofchicago.org while 35th Street was recently badly patched with cement. The whole street got resurfaced not long after. I didn't imagine that my complaint had anything to do with it, but it is nice to know that it is a recommended action.


Active Transportation Alliance said:

Thanks Steve and everyone for this great thread!

...

We’ll continue to raise the issue, but it’s also critically important for residents to make their voices heard by reporting inadequate street conditions to the city and their alderman – which both demonstrates public concern and generates hard data the city can use to improve its services.

Here are a few things you can do to report inadequately restored streets:

1. Report it via 311 – use the “street cut complaint” category. More complaints will help to document with real data that there is a real problem the city needs to address: http://311request.cityofchicago.org/reports/new?service_id=4ffa995a...

2. Contact your alderman about it. Find who that is here: https://webapps3.cityofchicago.org/StickerOnlineWeb/pageflows/wardL...

3. Contact CDOT at cdotbikes@cityofchicago.org

Thanks again,

Jim Merrell - Active Trans

An initial portion of Wells from Division north (northbound) has been repaved.  Wells from Chicago to Division and a portion of Wells between Division and North are still junky, though. 

I wonder if this is an issue in terms of the city/utility contract agreements to pavement design.  Since the concrete strips are designed to meet the general specifications by the city, the utilities likely use them over asphalt so they don't have to worry about the grade of backfill being used and proper compaction (this is what causes so many sink holes).   The use of concrete is to cover up poor installation practices with asphalt patching.  

City specification for street repair are a disaster, I've worked in a public works department for a suburb and the standards and supervision are much higher.  Part of the problem is that the roadway repairs and CDOT are vastly underfunded, and aren't allocated the correct resources for utility work inspection.  

I wonder if CDOT requirements include the need to trowel or broom finish concrete?  If not the utilities are fulfilling their requirements with the rough surface.  If they are required to finish to surface, then they're liable to replace sections that have not been properly installed.  

Did CDOT acknowledge the communication?


Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

I tried repeatedly to use the 311request URL, but it never liked the location information I entered, no matter how precise I was.  Not being a Chicago resident, it didn't seem right that I look up an alderman.  I finally sent an email to the CDOT email address pointing out the problems with Wells through Old Town and Clark through Rogers Park.

Active Transportation Alliance said:

Here are a few things you can do to report inadequately restored streets:

1. Report it via 311 – use the “street cut complaint” category. More complaints will help to document with real data that there is a real problem the city needs to address: http://311request.cityofchicago.org/reports/new?service_id=4ffa995a...

2. Contact your alderman about it. Find who that is here: https://webapps3.cityofchicago.org/StickerOnlineWeb/pageflows/wardL...

3. Contact CDOT at cdotbikes@cityofchicago.org

Haven't seen anything so far.  Assuming they don't just use auto-reply bots, I wouldn't necessarily expect an immediate response.  Might take a day or two.

h' 1.0 said:

Did CDOT acknowledge the communication?

I still think there may be a reason it's purposely textured like volcanic rock, and I'm gonna find out what it is next time I see a crew out there.

Liz said:

I wonder if this is an issue in terms of the city/utility contract agreements to pavement design.  Since the concrete strips are designed to meet the general specifications by the city, the utilities likely use them over asphalt so they don't have to worry about the grade of backfill being used and proper compaction (this is what causes so many sink holes).   The use of concrete is to cover up poor installation practices with asphalt patching.  

City specification for street repair are a disaster, I've worked in a public works department for a suburb and the standards and supervision are much higher.  Part of the problem is that the roadway repairs and CDOT are vastly underfunded, and aren't allocated the correct resources for utility work inspection.  

I wonder if CDOT requirements include the need to trowel or broom finish concrete?  If not the utilities are fulfilling their requirements with the rough surface.  If they are required to finish to surface, then they're liable to replace sections that have not been properly installed.  

Textured like volcanic rock would be okay.  Cratered like a volcano, less so. :-)

h' 1.0 said:

I still think there may be a reason it's purposely textured like volcanic rock

My opinion on the reason is money and time.  It takes longer and is more work to broom finish.

h' 1.0 said:

I still think there may be a reason it's purposely textured like volcanic rock, and I'm gonna find out what it is next time I see a crew out there.


Well, I submitted a street cut complaint.  I may call the alderman, but he's not MY alderman, I don't even live in the City so how far will that go?


I have to say, I think we're getting a little bit of the runaround here.  What I still want to know is what is POLICY on this matter?

1) Why are construction crews being paid for construction that fails to meet standards.  Would an asphalt paving job of this level of bumpiness be accepted?  Shouldn't it be POLICY that all road-construction work have a smoothness requirement?

2) If the plans are to eventually cover with asphalt, what is POLICY on lag time between the two coverings?  Is a year acceptable? Two years?  What?

I would like to see ATA make a public issue out of this, something more than telling members to call their alderman, though that is a start.

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service