Bloomingdale Trail Park Construction View Full Caption

CHICAGO — The city is about to begin paving the way for the Bloomingdale Trail, the much-awaited elevated path that is planned to run through the Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square and Humboldt Park neighborhoods.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel was scheduled to attend the groundbreaking Tuesday for the 2.7-mile trail, which is to be part of the broader five-park system called the 606, according to the Mayor's Office.

Officials said earlier this summer that the 606 would include a skate park and an observatory as well as an event center and stage.

The trail, which has been years in the making, will run along the former train tracks on elevated Bloomingdale Avenue from Ridgeway Avenue on the west to Ashland Avenue on the east. Handicap-accessible ramps will be available every quarter-mile, including in the five entry parks, officials said earlier this summer.

The city announced last week that the contract to build the trail had been awarded to Walsh Construction, which submitted the lowest bid at $53.7 million. The company will start construction on the project within the next few days, according to Chicago Department of Transportation spokesman Pete Scales.

The cost of the trail has been estimated at $91 million, and the city said it was being financed with a mix of public and private funds.

Construction will include the repairing of 38 bridges, officials said. The first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in November 2014.