IRVING PARK — A new bridge connecting two parks along the North Branch of the Chicago River is now open to the public.
The 312 RiverRun, first announced by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2017, is a single path that will stretch for nearly two miles along the Chicago River from Belmont to Montrose avenues. Riverview Bridge is part of the RiverRun and extends over 1,000 feet in length and is 16 feet wide, making it the longest pedestrian riverfront bridge in the city.
The new path connects Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St., and California Park, 3843 N. California Ave. allowing people on foot or bike circumvent major streets.
“We’ve seen people surprised that’s it’s open already,” said Noel Abbott, a spokesperson for Epstein, a Chicago-based design and construction firm that worked on the bridge.
The bridge was slated to open sooner but snowfall the week of Halloween pushed back the timeline. The project was funded through state, federal and local funding.
Abbott said they are planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony, hopefully with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, soon.
Further north on the river, the reconstruction of the Irving Park Road Bridge is still underway.
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