02.06.11
In a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Secretary of Transportation, Durbin and Kirk have requested that they consider the impact waves could have had along the shore if Lake Michigan’s water level had not been at a historic low during last week’s storm and examine how to strengthen several weak spots in the shoreline’s protections against future severe weather events. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District have agreed to lead the local effort to identify areas of the lakefront where protection is most needed.
“While Chicago relishes its location on the shores of Lake Michigan, this week’s significant weather event highlighted one of the issues facing a city of its size: locating a major vehicular route so close to a major body of water can have unintended consequences. This week’s storms showed that the proximity of Lake Shore Drive to Lake Michigan can stop even the hardiest Chicagoans,” Durbin and Kirk wrote.
“We invite you to join us and other interested stakeholders in Chicago to discuss ways in which problems facing the City as a result of the location of Lake Shore Drive might be mitigated, while preserving the significant cultural and aesthetic value of the lakefront,” Durbin and Kirk wrote.
The Chicago Shoreline Project, which has been one of Durbin’s top legislative priorities for more than a decade, provides storm damage protection to the Lake Michigan Shoreline and Lake Shore Drive. Durbin has secured more than $200 million federal funding for the project, which began in 2000, to repair previously existing shoreline structures, which had deteriorated and no longer functioned to protect against storms, flooding and erosion.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the Shoreline Project was the major contributor in keeping wind and water damage from severely damaging Lake Shore Drive during last week’s record-breaking snowfall.
[Full text of Senators' letter follows]
February 6, 2011
The Honorable Ray LaHood
Secretary
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works
U.S. Department of the Army
108 Army Pentagon, Room 3E446
Washington, DC 20310
Dear Secretary LaHood and Assistant Secretary Darcy:
Following record-breaking storms in Illinois earlier this week, we write to ask you to meet with us in Chicago to discuss possible federal solutions to issues facing the City of Chicago during major weather events.
As you know, winter weather wreaked havoc throughout the Midwest and Northeast this week, closing schools, businesses and airports across the county. Chicago experienced blizzard conditions, with 20.2 inches of snow falling in 22 hours in the City.
Lake Shore Drive, a major north-south artery that runs through Chicago, was closed for more than 30 hours when a combination of high winds and cold temperatures turned the Drive into an icy, treacherous thoroughfare. Hundreds of cars were stranded for hours after the Drive became impassable.
One of the most treasured portions of Daniel Burnham’s plan for the Chicago is the City’s public lakefront, unique in the world. When the Plan was written, only a quarter of the City’s shoreline was publicly available. Today, for more than 17 miles, Lake Shore Drive edges the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, providing one spectacular view after another. It cuts through four city parks, adjoins five major museums and one zoo, and connects the City’s North and South Sides.
For years, the Illinois delegation has worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to address a long-acknowledged problem of crumbling Illinois shorelines. In 1999, the USACE and City of Chicago approved a plan allowing the USACE to undertake a project to protect and expand its shoreline. According to USACE, the remediation, combined with natural lower lake levels, has shown a significant reduction in the impact waves could have caused along the shore and to Lake Shore Drive.
While Chicago relishes its location on the shores of Lake Michigan, this week’s significant weather event highlighted one of the issues facing a city of its size: locating a major vehicular route so close to a major body of water can have unintended consequences. This week’s storms showed that the proximity of Lake Shore Drive to Lake Michigan can stop even the hardiest Chicagoans.
We invite you to join us and other interested stakeholders in Chicago to discuss ways in which problems facing the City as a result of the location of Lake Shore Drive might be mitigated, while preserving the significant cultural and esthetic value of the lakefront. We look forward to discussing ways in which we can address waves and flooding during extreme weather events, including approaches that could add to the green space and park space as Daniel Burnham intended.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request and we hope a meeting can be arranged in Illinois in the near future.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin &
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk
Durbin and Kirk Ask Federal Officials to Examine Opportunities to Strengthen Protections Along Lake Michigan Shoreline
[CHICAGO, IL] – Following one of the heaviest snowfalls in Chicago’s history, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) are asking federal and local officials to determine whether all areas of the Lake Michigan shoreline adequately protect Lake Shore Drive and the City of Chicago.In a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Secretary of Transportation, Durbin and Kirk have requested that they consider the impact waves could have had along the shore if Lake Michigan’s water level had not been at a historic low during last week’s storm and examine how to strengthen several weak spots in the shoreline’s protections against future severe weather events. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District have agreed to lead the local effort to identify areas of the lakefront where protection is most needed.
“While Chicago relishes its location on the shores of Lake Michigan, this week’s significant weather event highlighted one of the issues facing a city of its size: locating a major vehicular route so close to a major body of water can have unintended consequences. This week’s storms showed that the proximity of Lake Shore Drive to Lake Michigan can stop even the hardiest Chicagoans,” Durbin and Kirk wrote.
“We invite you to join us and other interested stakeholders in Chicago to discuss ways in which problems facing the City as a result of the location of Lake Shore Drive might be mitigated, while preserving the significant cultural and aesthetic value of the lakefront,” Durbin and Kirk wrote.
The Chicago Shoreline Project, which has been one of Durbin’s top legislative priorities for more than a decade, provides storm damage protection to the Lake Michigan Shoreline and Lake Shore Drive. Durbin has secured more than $200 million federal funding for the project, which began in 2000, to repair previously existing shoreline structures, which had deteriorated and no longer functioned to protect against storms, flooding and erosion.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the Shoreline Project was the major contributor in keeping wind and water damage from severely damaging Lake Shore Drive during last week’s record-breaking snowfall.
[Full text of Senators' letter follows]
February 6, 2011
The Honorable Ray LaHood
Secretary
United States Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works
U.S. Department of the Army
108 Army Pentagon, Room 3E446
Washington, DC 20310
Dear Secretary LaHood and Assistant Secretary Darcy:
Following record-breaking storms in Illinois earlier this week, we write to ask you to meet with us in Chicago to discuss possible federal solutions to issues facing the City of Chicago during major weather events.
As you know, winter weather wreaked havoc throughout the Midwest and Northeast this week, closing schools, businesses and airports across the county. Chicago experienced blizzard conditions, with 20.2 inches of snow falling in 22 hours in the City.
Lake Shore Drive, a major north-south artery that runs through Chicago, was closed for more than 30 hours when a combination of high winds and cold temperatures turned the Drive into an icy, treacherous thoroughfare. Hundreds of cars were stranded for hours after the Drive became impassable.
One of the most treasured portions of Daniel Burnham’s plan for the Chicago is the City’s public lakefront, unique in the world. When the Plan was written, only a quarter of the City’s shoreline was publicly available. Today, for more than 17 miles, Lake Shore Drive edges the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, providing one spectacular view after another. It cuts through four city parks, adjoins five major museums and one zoo, and connects the City’s North and South Sides.
For years, the Illinois delegation has worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to address a long-acknowledged problem of crumbling Illinois shorelines. In 1999, the USACE and City of Chicago approved a plan allowing the USACE to undertake a project to protect and expand its shoreline. According to USACE, the remediation, combined with natural lower lake levels, has shown a significant reduction in the impact waves could have caused along the shore and to Lake Shore Drive.
While Chicago relishes its location on the shores of Lake Michigan, this week’s significant weather event highlighted one of the issues facing a city of its size: locating a major vehicular route so close to a major body of water can have unintended consequences. This week’s storms showed that the proximity of Lake Shore Drive to Lake Michigan can stop even the hardiest Chicagoans.
We invite you to join us and other interested stakeholders in Chicago to discuss ways in which problems facing the City as a result of the location of Lake Shore Drive might be mitigated, while preserving the significant cultural and esthetic value of the lakefront. We look forward to discussing ways in which we can address waves and flooding during extreme weather events, including approaches that could add to the green space and park space as Daniel Burnham intended.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request and we hope a meeting can be arranged in Illinois in the near future.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin &
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk
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