The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced on Monday the reopening of seven renovated pedestrian tunnels beneath the Lower Level Roadway at O’Hare International Airport ahead of the busy Fourth of July travel season. The CDA’s design and construction contractors performed remediation work for water infiltration that affected the original cast-in-place reinforced concrete tunnels, which were constructed in the 1970s. During periods of heavy rain, groundwater would leak into the tunnels, requiring frequent maintenance over the past decade to repair damage to interior architectural features. Crews used 3D laser scans of the tunnels to facilitate the repairs, which were conducted in conjunction with interior renovation work. Large LED screens break up the linearity of the tunnels. The screens display vibrant scenes of the city, important travel information, and can be used to broadcast emergency notices if needed. The first three completed tunnels — PC5 in Terminal 3, PC3 in Terminal 2 and PC1 in Terminal 1— reopened in November 2021, the week before Thanksgiving. Tunnel PC7 in Terminal 3, which closed for construction in August 2021, reopened in February.  Work on tunnels PC2 in Terminal 1, PC4 in Terminal 2, and PC6 in Terminal 3, which closed for renovations in November 2021, were completed in recent weeks. All tunnels have since been reopened to the public and are ready to connect travelers to O’Hare’s terminals as summer travel heats up. 

Photo Credit: The Chicago Department of Aviation