City investigating viral video of people atop a raised bridge

A video showing a group of people “chilling” atop a raised bridge over the Chicago River has gone viral with claims the city lifted the bridge while they were walking across.

City officials deny those claims outright and believe the six people scaled the Franklin-Orleans Street bridge after it was raised.

The post shows a man recording video at some point during the evening, their feet dangling as they laugh with a picturesque view of the city. More than 100 feet below them is the Chicago River.

Michael Claffey, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation, said the department is aware of the video that showed the group engaging in “extremely reckless and potentially deadly behavior.”

Downtown bridges are controlled by the Chicago Department of Transportation. The agency didn’t answer questions about how a group of people could climb a bridge without being noticed by city officials or if raised bridges are monitored at all times.

Still, Claffey said, the agency is working with the Chicago Police Department to hold these individuals “accountable for trespassing.”

CPD declined to comment about the investigation.

Chicago raised most bridges along the river this spring and summer as a means of protecting the downtown during civil unrest.

The city lifted its restriction to Loop bridges earlier this week.

The original poster of the video and one of his compatriots changed their Facebook profile photo, which shows them either scaling or climbing down from the bridge. Neither responded to requests for comment.