Morgan Station gaining steam, ahead of schedule

Basic frame almost done, but stop still expected to open mid-2012

08/17/2011 2:08 PM

By Ben Meyerson
Editor

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Much of the framework is up on the Green Line's new Morgan station, above. But there's still a lot of work to be done before the station is finished, and looks like this rendering, below.
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION



The new West Loop Green Line station at Morgan Street is moving along quicker than expected and is on track to open midway through next year, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The station’s framework is almost complete, according to CDOT spokesman Brian Steele. Most of the heavy steel framework has been completed, along with the overhead canopy as well as much of the concrete platform itself.

“Most of the heavy-duty structural work is 90 percent complete,” Steele said. “Generally speaking, we’ve had very cooperative weather during this construction season.”

But while the station appears to be moving along quickly, Steele said the station is only about 20 percent finished. Most of the rest of the work is nuanced detailing, like installing thousands of feet of electrical wiring, adding plumbing, lighting and doing all the minute architectural finishes.

“It’s like building a house,” Steele said. “When you put up the frame, there’s still a lot of finishing left to do. All the intricate systems still need to be put in place.”

Steele said that the project is slightly ahead of schedule right now, but they haven’t yet set a concrete date by which they expect to have the station finished. That should be locked down later this year, he said.


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