LFP Closure

I look forward to improvements on the Lakefront Path but detours must be provided while construction is underway.  This is unacceptable:

(Southbound just south of E Waldron Drive)

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on October 24, 2018 at 3:03am

It is annoying that they don't post the detour options and I agree that they should. I assume you already know this: the seawall path is available (400 ft to the east) and can be taken to avoid the closed of LFP section.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on October 24, 2018 at 3:11am

The only sign missing is "BEWARE OF TIGER."

i have a somewhat bad habit of ignoring those signs (when work is not actually going on) and seeing for myself just why a path is closed and if the stretch is still passable, if i can get around the barricades. Recent work along the Salt Creek Trail had signage directing a detour along a busy, fast road. Bad detours can be worse than risking a rough trail.

Permalink Reply by Gage B. on October 24, 2018 at 3:57am

Imagine the fury if they did this on a street to cars!

Permalink Reply by Phillip Hutchinson on October 24, 2018 at 5:33am

I rode through here a few weeks ago early in the morning and all the pedestrian lights were switched off. It was pitch black and I nearly ran into the fence/gate across the path at the south end of this section because I couldn't see it (even with a headlight).

The seawall is also a little dangerous to ride on when the sun is down. It's very dark out there, no pavement markings, and hard to see other peds/bikes, plus it's slippery when wet.  I encountered several people riding through here with little/no lighting on their bikes.  It seems crazy to me that this is an acceptable detour route from a liability point of view. 

I had the same thought... "Imagine the fury if they did this on a street to cars!". 

Permalink Reply by Bruce on November 8, 2018 at 7:44am

I am not sure but my reading of the plans on the Park District website is that they INTEND for the seawall to be used by runners/walkers once this is complete. If that is the case it would be totally crazy!  I've ridden on the sea wall many times, including at night and including when the water has been flowing on it. However, I am talking about less than an inch. If I were to encounter even an inch of water I'd probably turn around for fear of getting pulled into the lake at any moment due to an unanticipated wave.  As it was some parts of me (feet and butt) got pretty wet.

Permalink Reply by Phillip Hutchinson on November 8, 2018 at 8:37am

Correct. It looks like the the plan shows that the existing seawall will become the new "pedestrian path" and the current path will become the bike path.

It'll be interesting to see if pedestrians/joggers actually use the seawall, or just run on the bike path. The plan shows the existing switchback ramp to be part of the ped path, which seems like something most people will just ignore. 

Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on November 8, 2018 at 8:42am

I kinda suspect that the seawalls won't be the pedestrian path even though this plan shows it. I think they are widening the existing path such that half can be pedestrian and half can be cyclists.

While the construction crews were ramping up to begin the path work, they placed stakes several feet out from the existing path through this area. Additionally, they cut down all the trees that were in the zone between stakes and the existing path. 

 

I could be totally wrong, but I hope that the widened path will accommodate both cyclists and peds.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on October 26, 2018 at 3:23pm

"The George Lucas Museum Memorial Parking Lot?!"

Bwoo-woo-haa-haa-ha ! 

Permalink Reply by lft_rat on October 30, 2018 at 4:57am

This is my commute. We have to ride along the seawall. You can take an "upper" path along the seawall to avoid the worst and wettest patches, but I won't even attempt this if it goes below freezing or on an especially windy day. I watched an experienced commuter slip on her bike and almost go into the lake yesterday morning. This morning, most of the 31st St Beach was blocked off, but it's possible to detour into the parking lot.

I'm really upset by the sudden closures. They've nearly made me late a few times, and the first time I encountered the McCormick closure was late at night, when I didn't know the path to the seawall so well. I was about to call a freaking Lyft and considered abandoning my bike, since I don't ride with a lock. Fortunately, another cyclist came by and tipped me off.

Am I missing some way to be notified about these stupid closures?

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on October 30, 2018 at 5:19am

There are some lyft/uber drivers at night that will agree to pickup you and your bicycle if you take your front wheel off and their trunk is big enough to close with a bungee cord. (don't abandon your bike because you don't ride with a u-lock! )

Permalink Reply by lft_rat on October 31, 2018 at 1:44am

Thanks, Tom! 

Permalink Reply by Gage B. on October 31, 2018 at 7:04am

I’ve been thinking about this more, I’m willing to bet that the contractors don’t want to be held liable for the detours as someone may get hurt and sue them. However if this was a regular road and a detour was necessary they would have to take necesssary measures to ensure the drivers safety such as barriers and proper lighting all of which cost the contractors money from their profits.

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