Project Overview

After much deterioration and fundraising, The Chicago Department of Transportation began its $200 million plan to revitalize and rehab the oldest sections of the River Walk, the area that runs from Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street.

Berglund Construction was involved with restoring the most challenging and largest portion of the total project, Contract “C.” In October 2002, with a fully staffed project management team, engineering, architectural consultants and over 30 masonry tradesmen, Berglund began the process of salvaging and preserving more than 5,000 stones averaging 800 lbs. each. Due to site logistics, utilization of an off-site warehouse to store the historic limestone and granite was required. Documentation of the existing stones was paramount, which included site surveys, over 5000 photographs and dimensions of each stone unit and historic assembly. This information was critical with assisting in generating the comprehensive database. While in the warehouse all original carbon steel hardware was removed and the stones were re-measured and closely inspected by the Historic Architect.

Subsequent to reconstruction of the superstructure concrete viaduct, the historic stone assemblies were transported back to the site for reinstallation. The Historic stone assemblies were reinstalled using stainless steel support anchorage. New movement joints and flashing systems were introduced into the reconstructed assemblies to accommodate the new structurally engineered design viaduct. After the historic assemblies were reconstructed, stone preservation, which included restoration cleaning, stone consolidation, patching, tuckpointing, sealant and water repellent application was performed by Berglund workforces.