Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-102 by adding new Section 2-102-110 to require City Council approval to close bridges of Chicago for improvement, maintenance, repair or other public work

Votes › Pedestrian and Traffic Safety › 2nd Ward: Brian Hopkins

• Record number: SO2025-0021022
• Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
• Status: Final
• Sponsor: Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward)
• Committee: Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
• Introduction Date: Nov 14, 2025
• Final Action Date: Feb 18, 2026
• Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Feb 18, 2026

49 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent. On motion of Alderperson La Spata, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Feb 18, 2026.

Yea (49): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Absent (1): Monique L. Scott (24)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: SO2025-0021022 Substitute Ordinance.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance adds a new rule to the City code about closing Chicago bridges for repairs or other public work. If a bridge will be closed for 30 days or more, the Transportation Commissioner must go to a City Council committee hearing at least 30 days before the closure to explain the project and a plan to reduce traffic jams. Although the title mentions requiring City Council approval, the ordinance text itself calls for notice to the City Council, with a separate process for emergency work.

• Applies to bridge closures for improvement, maintenance, repair, or other public work lasting 30 days or more.
• At least 30 days before such a closure, the Commissioner of Transportation (or their designee) must appear at a hearing of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety and share the project schedule, the estimated closure length, and a congestion mitigation plan.
• The congestion plan covers a one-mile radius around the bridge and may include detour routes, parking restrictions, pauses on non-emergency construction in the public way, traffic signal changes, and traffic control and parking enforcement aides.
• Emergency work certified by a licensed engineer or architect is exempt, but the committee must be notified within 24 hours after the work starts; if the work is expected to last 30 days or more, written notice and an appearance at the next practicable committee meeting are required.
• Takes effect upon passage and publication.

Who: The Commissioner of Transportation and the Department of Transportation must follow the new notice rules, and people who travel near bridges that close for 30 days or more are affected by the required traffic plans.

Where: Bridges throughout the City of Chicago, with traffic measures covering a one-mile radius of each closed bridge

Timeline

• Nov 14, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
• Feb 9, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
• Feb 9, 2026: Substituted, Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. The matter was substituted in Commitee.
• Feb 18, 2026: Passed, City Council (49 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson La Spata, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.

Documents

• w2 - o21022.pdf (Legislation)
• SO2025-0021022 Substitute Ordinance.pdf (Legislation)
• SO2025-0021022 Committee Letter - Bridge Closures - Ward 02.pdf (Committee Letter)

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