A portion of the Navy Pier Flyover, a high-profile bike and pedestrian path along Chicago's Lakefront Trail, opens Thursday after years of planning and construction.
The long-awaited project is an elevated path that is ultimately slated to extend from the south side of the Chicago River to Ohio Street Beach and Jane Addams Park, near Navy Pier.
City officials say the area is one of the most heavily used portions of the 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail, and the project is aimed at creating a safer experience for pedestrians and cyclists over the Chicago River, particularly at congested and dangerous intersections in the area.
The $60 million project has been in the works for over a decade, with setbacks delaying the process along the way. Construction began in 2014, broken into three phases.
It's currently in its second phase, with a major portion - the section over East Illinois Street and East Grand Avenue - opening to the public on Thursday.
The final phase, taking bikers and pedestrians over the Chicago River, is slated to be completed in 2019, city officials say.
