Bulley & Andrews

Bulley & Andrews/Ujamaa Completes Complex Tunnel on Rush University Medical Center’s Campus

Chicago, Ill. (April 1, 2009) – Construction is complete for a new pedestrian and utility tunnel on Rush University Medical Center’s campus.  The tunnel links Rush’s new Orthopedic Ambulatory Building, East Tower and the Atrium Building.  While the tunnel’s main use is for loading docks, it also allows employees underground access to the buildings.

Located at the corner of Harrison Street and Ashland Avenue on Rush University’s medical campus, the tunnel is approximately 145 feet long, spanning under five lanes of traffic.   Designed by Perkins + Will, the tunnel runs north and south, lying 27.5 feet below the street’s surface, stands 12.5 feet tall and is 32 feet wide. The project required the placement of nearly 1100 cubic yards of concrete and 93 tons of reinforcing steel for the tunnel’s footings and walls. 

General contractor, Bulley & Andrews, LLC and joint venture partner, Ujamaa Construction, Inc. were awarded the project in December 2007.  Once permits were granted, construction of the tunnel began in June 2008.  The complexity of the tunnel posed a number of challenges for the construction team.  

Maintaining Utilities and Working with Existing Conditions

Like many projects, maintaining exiting site utilities during construction can be a challenge. However, this project proved to be especially difficult, as any error made would not only affect the immediate area, but the City of Chicago as well.  The team had to secure and maintain a 911 main cable duct that supports the city’s 911 emergency communication system.  Other utility coordination included the installation of new Common Wealth Edison power feeds over the tunnel, in addition to locating and maintaining three SBC/AT&T ducts nestled around the south water main. 

Careful coordination was needed when contractor Bulley & Andrews/Ujamaa had to bypass an existing 48 inch diameter brick sewer and replace it while still active.  Being in an older area of the city, where existing water mains have been in place since 1893, these were some of the oldest sewers the construction team had ever seen.   

At each end of the tunnel came new obstacles.  The construction team found themselves working alongside major excavations at each end of the tunnel as well caisson foundations that were installed beside the new East tower.  Additionally, the marriage of two earth retention systems was needed at both ends of the tunnel.

Maintaining Traffic Flow on a Busy Hospital Campus

As one of the busiest hospitals in Chicago, it was essential to sustain the flow of pedestrian traffic on Rush University Medical Center’s campus.  The construction team made certain there was continued access to the new Orthopedic Ambulatory Building, under construction at the south end of the tunnel, while also maintaining full access to the north public entrance of the existing parking garage at all times. 

At the busy intersection of Harrison Street and Ashland Avenue, traffic was regulated throughout the project.  Harrison Street, which runs east and west, consists of a total of five lanes of traffic.  With the tunnel running directly below Harrison Street, the street was brought down to two lanes of traffic, allowing motorists to travel westbound only. Eastbound traffic was carefully rerouted around the campus.

Upholding the Schedule 

Construction began first on the north portion of the tunnel, which represents approximately one-third of the tunnel.  The team faced a delay when Chicago was hit with two major rain storms in August and September 2008.  With a delay of only 10 days, the north portion of the tunnel was completed in October 2008.  Although the rainfall required much clean-up activity, Bulley & Andrews/Ujamaa was able to maintain all utilities without interruption.  Rigorous schedule adherence allowed construction of the tunnel’s south portion to begin in November 2008.

“We had terrific cooperation from the City of Chicago,” said Dan Nelson, Senior Project Manager at Bulley & Andrews, LLC.  “The Department of Water Management’s Tim Kavanaugh worked with us to coordinate water main shut downs and obtain the permits needed.”

Although most don’t realize what happened beneath the surface of Rush University Medical Center’s campus, much hard work and coordination was put forth by the joint venture team of Bulley & Andrews/Ujamaa.  Scheduled to be complete in late April 2009, the project was finished March 21, 2009 and will benefit Rush University Medical Center for years to come.