Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM Traffic and Transportation

(CHICAGO) The highly unanticipated-for-commuters (anticipated for boaters) Chicago bridge lift season commences this weekend.

According to CDOT, each year, in the spring and fall, the department raises the movable bridges along the main and South Branches of the Chicago River on a twice-weekly schedule on most Saturdays and Wednesdays for about eight weeks to accommodate the movement of recreational sailboats traveling to their storage yards.

These begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, and continue each Saturday and Wednesday, through June 28.

A total of 27 bridges are lifted in succession from Ashland Avenue to Lake Shore Drive over the Chicago River. It is also noted that if no boat owners make arrangements to move their boats on a scheduled day, the bridges will not be lifted.

Per previous years, the streets affected by the bridge lifts are: Lake Shore Drive, Columbus Dr., Michigan Ave., Wabash Ave., State St., Dearborn St., Clark St., La Salle St., Wells St., Franklin St., Lake St., Randolph St., Washington St., Madison St., Monroe St., Adams St., Jackson Blvd., Van Buren St., Congress Pkwy., Harrison St., Roosevelt Rd., 18th St., Canal St., Cermak Ave., Halsted St., Loomis Ave., and Ashland Ave.