Scott Ferguson ducks under a sidewalk gate at the Franklin Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A pedestrian walks past a lifted Franklin Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A Chicago Dept. of Transportation worker, left, motions for a pedestrian to walk past a sidewalk gate at the Franklin Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Pedestrians hold up their camera phones as the Lake Street Bridge opens for the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A Chicago Dept. of Transportation worker, left, watches pedestrians cross the Franklin Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Two men watch as the Lake Street Bridge opens for the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A jogger moves past the Franklin Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A CTA train conductor looks out a window as he crosses the Wells Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A boat moves under the Franklin Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Pedestrians wait as the Franklin Street Bridge descends during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Stop signals are lit as the Lake Street Bridge opens for the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Boaters wait for the Wells Street Bridge to open during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Boaters wait for the Lake Street Bridge to open during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Tour boats move between the Wells and Franklin Street Bridges during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A barge moves under the Lake Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Two sail boats move under the Lake Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

The Wells Street Bridge opens for sail boats to move underneath during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

A tour boat moves under the Wells Street Bridge during the first bridge lifts of the year Wednesday, May 2, 2012, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times

Bridges along the Chicago River, including the Franklin Street bridge are raised to allow sailboats to pass as they make the journey to their docks for the first time this spring on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times

Bridges along the Chicago River, including the Wells Street bridge are raised to allow sailboats to pass as they make the journey to their docks for the first time this spring on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times

Bridges along the Chicago River, including the Franklin Street bridge are raised to allow sailboats to pass as they make the journey to their docks for the first time this spring on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times

Pedestrians and autos resume crossing the Franklin Street bridge after waiting for the bridge to be lowered. Bridges along the Chicago River, including the Franklin Street bridge were being raised to allow sailboats to pass as they make the journey to their docks for the first time this spring on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times

Bridges along the Chicago River, including the Franklin Street bridge are raised to allow sailboats to pass as they make the journey to their docks for the first time this spring on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times