Walsh Delivers Final Phase of Chicago Riverwalk

CHICAGO, Ill. – Walsh Construction has completed the final phase of the Chicago Riverwalk. Spanning along the main branch of the Chicago River, the path provides a continuous 1.3-mile walkway with public spaces that connects the lakefront to the center of downtown Chicago, Illinois.

The newly completed phase adds three new areas of attraction for visitors to enjoy – The Water Plaza, The Jetty and The Boardwalk. Highlights of these areas include a zero-depth fountain for children to play, floating wetlands and water gardens for ecologic observation, and a landscaped green space allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the views of the confluence of the three branches of the Chicago River.

Walsh was the general contractor responsible for building three of the Riverwalk’s four phases. The construction operations were on public display for passers-by along the Chicago River and neighboring Wacker Drive. Previously completed spaces along the Riverwalk include The Marina, The Cove and The River Theater.

The Chicago Riverwalk has brought new life to a previously unused space. “The way the Riverwalk used to be, you couldn’t get around the bridge houses to continue walking at the water’s edge,” said David Shier, business group leader. “We essentially extended the land, creating up to 50 feet of land where there used to be water to create a continuous pathway, allowing people to admire the mix of new and old architecture that lines the river from a unique vantage point.”