Chicago, IL

Jane Byrne Interchange

Scope/Solutions

One of the busiest interchanges in the nation, the Jane Byrne Interchange in downtown Chicago connects I-90/94, I-290, and Congress Parkway. The Illinois Department of Transportation undertook a multi-year project to improve the interchange. Part of the project required 20 ft deep excavations adjacent to the University of Illinois’s CUPPA Hall, which was constructed in the early 1900s. On behalf of the Illinois Department of Transportation, SGH investigated claims that this work resulted in settlement and damage to CUPPA Hall, a mass masonry structure with timber post-and-beam framing.

SGH helped the Illinois Department of Transportation assess the causes of reported settlement and allocate responsibility. Highlights of our investigation included:

  • Surveying the existing CUPPA Hall building from the interior and exterior to document distress
  • Reviewing project documents and correspondence to understand the design parameters and construction methodologies
  • Evaluating movement of the excavation and CUPPA Hall from survey monitoring data
  • Performing structural and geotechnical analyses of the excavation support and adjacent structures

Following our investigation, SGH developed guideline specifications for performing preconstruction surveys of adjacent buildings that the Illinois Department of Transportation can implement on future projects to help them protect assets and define roles and responsibilities for the project team members and stakeholders.

Project Summary

Icon: completion-date

2017

Completion Date
Solutions
Failure Investigation
Services
Structures | Advanced Analysis
Markets
Infrastructure & Transportation
Client(s)
Illinois Department of Transportation
Specialized Capabilities
Temporary Construction | Failure Analysis

Key team members

Scott DiFiore
Managing Principal, Heavy Civil, Boston
781.907.9320 sjdifiore@sgh.com
View Bio
Kevin Conroy
Associate Principal
312.754.7432 kconroy@sgh.com

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