A new bike path, under construction

An unfinished path following the Weber Spur, from Devon Avenue going north to Touhy.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kastigar/sets/72157674074307420


It's largely unfinished.  The paths between the cross streets are nicely paved, smooth and finished, but at each street crossing there about a 10-foot section that just plain gravel or dirt.  You need to dismount, walk to the street, cross, then walk back to the re-start of the path.  

It doesn't have a name yet (if it's going to be different than the Weber Spur.)  The sign defines it as "Lincolnwood Multi-use path construction project. Where it begins north at Devon the curb doesn't have a curb-cut to accept bicycles.  Maybe Lincolnwood doesn't want Chicago to be encouraged to continue to Weber Spur trail from the Elston Avenue bike lane.

It's roughly mid-way between the North Shore Channel path and the unnamed new path in Lincolnwood continuing north from the Sauganash Trail.  Coming south from Touhy the first street is a meandering street (I don't know the name) with a bike lane going east about a mile almost to the path along McCormick Place.  Going further south to Pratt, you can go west to the Sauganash Trail extension, tho Pratt doesn't reduce in size to become very bike friendly until after it crosses Lincoln.

There's still a lot of bike routes not included in Google Maps, so you'll need to use your imagination to find this one.

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Permalink Reply by Mark on November 10, 2016 at 8:51am

Any update on this?   Looking forward to checking it out!

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on November 10, 2016 at 10:17am

Ald. Laurino of the 39th Ward says that Union Pacific has reversed the abandonment of the Weber Spur Line, so any extension in Chicago south of Devon won't be moving forward very quickly.

If they did this, it's hard to understand how Lincolnwood could go ahead and pave the path!

Ald Laurino said this information is on the UP website, but I can't find it.  If anyone else finds it, let us know.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on November 10, 2016 at 3:27pm

Ryan, I think you're referring to a different path.  You're referring to the Valley Line Trail.  The Weber Spur Trail is east of this, and in Lincolnwood only goes as far north as Touhy. The two trails converge roughly at Bryn Mawr.  The Weber Spur could eventually go as far south as Sunnyside Avenue in Chicago.

North of Bryn Mawr the Valley Line Trail (also called the Sauganash Trail to Devon) is paved.  The Weber Spur from Bryn Mawr north is not paved, just a coarse gravel path that crosses Pulaski and has jersey barriers blocking off the end on the south side of Devon.

Permalink Reply by Ryan C on November 10, 2016 at 4:07pm

Oops, thanks Bob! Long day at work. Removed my post since it wasn't relevant. I've walked the Weber Spur but haven't biked it. Some of that gravel south of Bryn Mawr is pretty coarse from what I remember. Would need some fatter tires, personally.

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