Amanda Massih stopped at a red light under a viaduct in Jefferson Park on her commute home last month when a train rumbled overhead.
Massih heard a loud thud on the roof of her car. Chunks of concrete had broken off the viaduct and fallen on her car, leaving a 6-by-6-inch dent. When she got home there was still debris on the roof.
That was on Feb. 20. Now, she’s asking for repairs to the viaduct or installation of safety netting to prevent injury to drivers or pedestrians should another piece of the bridge crumble down.
“If it hit the sunroof of my car, it could have hit me directly,” she said. “It could kill someone if they were walking under it.”
The viaduct is located near Lawrence and Avondale avenues. The train tracks it supports run parallel to Interstate 90. Metra commuter trains as well as freight trains travel on the tracks, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Sections of the viaduct show obvious signs of deterioration. Paint is chipping away in spots. Some support column have sections of concrete missing and visible cracks. And some of the overhead sections are missing large patches of concrete, leaving rebar exposed.
The viaduct is owned by Union Pacific. A spokesperson for the company said such structures are inspected a minimum of twice a year, with inspectors examining each bridge component for corrosion or cracks in trusses and decking.
After being made aware of Massih’s experience, the spokesperson said the company would send an inspector Feb. 24 to examine the viaduct. That inspection found the viaduct was “safe and structurally sound,” according to the spokesperson.
“We understand the bridges may not look good visually, but that was taken into account in the evaluation,” the spokesperson said. Questions about installing safety netting or making other repairs to prevent falling concrete were not addressed.
That’s not good enough for Massih, who fears someone could be seriously hurt by falling debris if repairs aren’t made. She also says there was no clear way to report online her complaint to the city.
Massih submitted a request to the city’s 311 non-emergency hotline after the incident. However, the online 311 portal doesn’t include a section specifically dedicated to reporting damage to bridges or viaducts. She had to file her report under the “viaduct light out” category. She wants the city to add a section to the 311 website to report bridge damage.
“Even having the option of saying, ‘Hey, the viaduct is damaged, it needs to be repaired,’ so that way citizens of Chicago can actually indicate that to the city,” Massih said.
A spokesperson for the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications said concerns about the structural safety of bridges and viaducts should be made by phone to 311. Those reports are then sent to the Chicago Department of Transportation.
According to CDOT, the city is responsible for “right-of-way” elements under railroad-owned viaducts, such as streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, but each railroad is responsible for inspecting and maintaining their own structures.
Massih, who lives in North Mayfair, was also hoping that whoever was in charge of the viaduct could help her pay for the damage to her car. The Union Pacific spokesperson urged Massih to contact the company’s claims department.
It’s not the first time residents have raised concerns about that viaduct. In 2020, residents questioned its condition, going so far as to send pictures to the local alderperson, only to be told then that it was safe.
Ald. Jim Gardiner’s (45th) office did not respond to questions about the viaduct.
And it’s not the only bridge that may be in need of repair.
Last week, Chicago Fire Department officials responded at 18th Street and Damen Avenue after sections of concrete fell from a viaduct owned by BNSF railroad. Chicago police also responded and blocked off the viaduct to traffic. No injuries were reported.
Of the 1,721 bridges in Cook County, 237 are rated in poor condition, according to Federal Highway Administration data.
Statewide, 2,517 of the 26,928 bridges in Illinois — or 9.3% — were classified as structurally deficient in 2024. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association’s annual bridge report.
Massih said she now feels safer driving under steel bridges rather than concrete ones.
“They really should be looking at fixing things as soon as possible,” Massih said.
Concrete fell from the Lawrence and Avondale viaduct last month, hitting Amanda Massih’s car and leaving a large dent on the roof. City officials say questions about the structural safety of bridges and viaducts should be made over the phone to the city’s 311 non-emergency hotline.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times