By Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM 890 News

(CHICAGO) The Chicago River fall bridge lift scheduled has been announced for the autumn 2016 season.

According to the Chicago Department of Transportation, the bridges are raised sequentially, typically one at a time, taking an average of 8-12 minutes per bridge. While the bridge is in the upright position, traffic is halted.

John Howell, host of the WLS-AM morning show has strong opinions concerning bridge lifts.

“I don’t understand why they can’t do them overnight on a Sunday from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.,” he argues…frequently.

Drivers are encouraged to use alternate streets or just wait it out until the bridge is lowered. Typically, traffic returns to normal after the bridge is lowered, and delays are not problematic after a bridge is lowered.

Beginning at Lake Shore Drive and moving inward to the Ashland Avenue bridge, 27 bridges arelifted in succession. However, if no boat owners make arrangements with the city to move their boats on a scheduled day, the bridges will not be lifted.

The Fall 2016 bridge lift schedule is as follows:
· Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Oct. 1 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Oct. 8 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Oct. 15 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Oct. 22 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m.
· Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
· Saturday, Nov. 5 at 9 a.m.
· Saturday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m.

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.