Project Description and Background
The study will reevaluate coastal storm risk including for reaches of the shoreline of Lake Michigan within the City of Chicago, including portions of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive, North Sheridan Road, and South Shore Drive.
The Chicago Shoreline project was authorized by Congress in 1996. Since then, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and our cost-sharing partners the City of Chicago, and the Chicago Park District, have invested over $500 million to rehabilitate and improve the coastal structures protecting Chicago’s lakefront. Additional information can be found at:
Projects
Chicago Shoreline
Current Status
A U.S. Army Corps study General Reevaluation Report (GRR) is an U.S. Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study that will reevaluate coastal storm risk including for reaches of the shoreline of Lake Michigan within the City of Chicago. The study will investigate coastal storm risk, formulate measures, and evaluate potential alternative plans to manage risk and potentially recommend projects for implementation.
The study is cost-shared with the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District and is estimated to be completed in 2027 and will focus on areas of the lakefront that were not included in the original project and underperforming segments of the constructed project.
A National Environmental Policy Act public scoping period ended April 30, 2023.
Project Authorization
Sec 101, Water Resources Development Act of 1996, as amended
Related Studies
There are other ongoing studies along the Chicago lakefront that are being performed by other agencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be coordinating with these studies throughout the GRR study process. These include:
- North DuSable Lake Shore Drive - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have begun a study to improve North Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The study encompasses the area between Grand Avenue and Hollywood Avenue along North DuSable Lake Shore Drive. See https://northdusablelakeshoredrive.org/ for more information.
- Chicago South Shore Plan - With support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Delta Institute and Sierra Club are working with local and regional stakeholder groups to develop a community-driven resilience plan for the South Shore neighborhood that identifies actionable solutions to coastal erosion and flooding issues. The plan will include stakeholder-driven strategies, priorities, project concepts, and investment models for increasing resiliency in South Shore.
Chicago Shoreline GRR Review Plan 2025