Construction begins Monday on the latest phase of Chicago's lakefront trail separation project.

The project, which began in fall 2016, will eventually split all 18 miles of the trail along Lake Michigan into two separate paths: one for pedestrians and another for bikes.

Crews with the Chicago Park District have already completed three sections of the project: from 35th to 41st Street, from Oak Street to Ohio Street, and from Fullerton to North Avenue.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined the Chicago Park District to break ground Monday on the next segment of the project, on the two miles from Montrose to Ardmore Avenue on the city's North Side.

George Mycyk

“The Lakefront Trail Separation project creates a more enjoyable experience for the thousands of people that use the path each day, and it will ensure that our children will inherit an even more vibrant, more prosperous and more inclusive Chicago than ever before,” Emanuel said in a statement. “Breaking ground from Montrose to Ardmore is an important step as we continue to make the lakefront more accessible and more enjoyable for the pedestrians and cyclists living in, and visiting our city.”

The project, aimed at alleviating congestion, is slated to be completed by late summer, officials said.

The lakefront trail is one of the busiest in the U.S., according to the mayor's office, with more than 100,000 visitors a day using the trail during summer months.