Underground Work On Huge Montrose Collapse May Be Completed Thursday

CHICAGO (STNG) -- Work to repair a broken 36-inch water main in the North Center neighborhood moved into its second day Wednesday with several city departments involved in addressing the construction and community issues involved.

The break occurred shortly after 12 a.m. Tuesday on the 1900 block of West Montrose Avenue. The leak was controlled about 6:45 a.m., Department of Water Management spokesman Tom LaPorte said.

Water Management crews have been working around-the-clock to replace a section of the feeder main, according to a release Wednesday. By Wednesday morning, the damaged section of pipe had been removed and preparations were under way to install a new section of ductile iron pipe. The old pipe is being sent to an engineering firm for analysis.

After a period of work by ComEd and Peoples Energy, preparations were under way to install 42-inch concrete sewer pipe to replace approximately 80 feet of brick sewer that collapsed in the incident.

It was hoped the two operations could be completed as early as Thursday evening, with other utilities then having to perform work on underground structures, the release said.

The foundation at El Torito restaurant at 1825 W. Montrose Ave., the building that suffered the most damage, is being repaired Wednesday afternoon, the release said. Work started Wednesday morning and Department of Buildings officials "are hopeful that it can be completed by early Thursday evening," the release said.

The Chicago Department of Transportation has surveyed the surrounding pavement and sidewalk areas to verify integrity.

It is not certain when the work will be completed, or when the street and sidewalk can be reopened. While the city continues to hope the work can be concluded in a week’s time, according to the release, it will also depend on the time required by other utilities.

Once all underground work is complete, Water Management will begin reconstructing the street and sidewalk. The department will use concrete to rebuild the missing street section and adjacent sidewalks. CDOT will reinstall sidewalk planters.

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications will continue providing Traffic Control Aides in the impacted area for both the morning and evening rushes, and fire and police personnel also remain on the scene.

Montrose remains closed from Damen to Ashland and Wolcott remains closed from Sunnyside to Cullom.

Flooding in the area also affected the CTA's No. 78 Montrose bus route, which will continue to be rerouted until main and street repairs are complete.

Eastbound No. 78 buses are being rerouted via Montrose to Damen, Wilson, Ashland and Montrose over to the regular route. Westbound buses are operating via Montrose, Ashland, Wilson, Damen and Montrose over to the regular route.

Trains at the Montrose Brown Line station are operating normally. The west entrance to the station is closed, but the east entrance is open.

The office of Ald. Gene Schulter is working with city departments to address the concerns of local businesses and keep the neighborhood informed.

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