Chicago commuters should expect significant delays and increased travel times due to the years-long construction project on the highly-trafficked 7.5-mile stretch of the Kennedy Expressway. Lane closures, ramp closures, and other changes to the roadway are expected, and Metra has revised its schedule on the UP Northwest Line to add 12 trains to its weekday service lineup beginning April 3 to provide commuters with a viable and less stressful alternative to driving. IDOT has advised commuters to look for alternate routes, take public transportation such as Metra or CTA, and adjust their work schedules if possible. They have also urged people who can work remotely to do so to help minimize traffic impacts. The rehabilitation project will involve rehabilitating 36 bridge structures and the Reversible Lane Access Control (REVLAC) system, replacing overhead sign-structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting. Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will also be painted, and new LED lighting will be installed.
Starting tomorrow evening, commuters in Chicago should expect extensive delays and increased travel times due to a years-long construction project on a highly-trafficked 7.5-mile stretch of the Kennedy Expressway. The project is slated to begin at 10 p.m. and run through at least the fall of 2025. While the project has several phases, lane closures and major traffic impacts are expected for the duration of the work.
Transportation officials are advising commuters to adjust their work times or work remotely if possible and to consider public transit as an alternative option. The construction is expected to affect both public transportation and inbound and outbound commutes.
The project will take place in three stages, each lasting a construction season, with an expected end date of fall 2025. However, the schedule is “weather permitting” and subject to change. Here’s what to expect in each stage, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation:
Stage I – Inbound Kennedy
Two mainline inbound lanes will be closed at a time. The reversible express lanes will remain open in the inbound direction, but motorists will not be able to exit the express lanes until Armitage Avenue. Lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures will be needed to complete the work. Later this summer, painting and the installation of new LED lighting will begin on inbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to be completed later this fall, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations.
Stage II – Reversible Express Lanes
The reversible express lanes will be closed to accommodate rehabilitation of the REVLAC system and bridge structures, along with pavement patching. Mainline lane closures will also be needed to accommodate painting and the installation of new LED lighting in both directions of Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024 and be completed in fall 2024.
Stage III – Outbound Kennedy
During the third stage, two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time, with the reversible express lanes remaining open in the outbound direction. Lane shifts and overnight lane closures, along with various ramp closures will be needed to complete the work. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2024 and be completed in fall 2025.
In conclusion, the construction project on the Kennedy Expressway will cause extensive delays and increased travel times for commuters for the foreseeable future. It is recommended that commuters adjust their work times or work remotely if possible, with public transit also suggested as an option. The project will be completed in three stages, each lasting a construction season, and is expected to end in fall 2025. However, the schedule is subject to change depending on the weather.
Starting in spring 2025, commuters in Chicago should expect significant delays and increased travel times due to the years-long construction project on the highly-trafficked 7.5-mile stretch of the Kennedy Expressway. During the construction, the reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, while two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time. Lane shifts, overnight lane closures, and various ramp closures will also be required to complete the work.
New LED lighting installation and painting will also be completed on outbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. The construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 and be completed in late fall 2025.
The initial work will involve setting up the work zone and gradually reducing the 7.5-mile stretch of the inbound Kennedy down to two through lanes. Crews will put up barriers starting at the Edens junction moving south to Ohio Street. This process is scheduled to take place each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning and is expected to take approximately one week for the work zone to be in place.
IDOT officials have advised commuters to look for alternate routes, take public transportation such as Metra or CTA, and adjust their work schedules if possible. They have also urged people who can work remotely to do so to help minimize traffic impacts. Some public transportation agencies are already increasing their presence in anticipation of increased ridership during the construction.
Metra announced that it will revise its schedule on the UP Northwest Line beginning April 3 to add 12 trains to its weekday service lineup. While this year’s work will center on the inbound construction, leading to many delays, outbound commuters can also expect to see some additional traffic as express lanes will remain in the inbound direction for the rest of the year.
The Kennedy Expressway construction is a massive undertaking that will significantly impact commuters in Chicago. It is essential for drivers to stay up-to-date on the latest information about lane closures, ramp closures, and other changes to the roadway. IDOT will also provide regular updates on the progress of the construction and any changes to the schedule as the project continues.
Metra, the commuter rail system serving the Chicago metropolitan area, has revised its schedule on the UP Northwest Line to add 12 trains to its weekday service lineup beginning April 3. This schedule change is in response to ridership trends and aims to increase capacity and convenience by expanding peak and off-peak services. The move is timely as a multiyear rehab project, expected to cost around $150 million, is scheduled to start on the Kennedy Expressway soon. The construction project is expected to cause extensive delays and increased travel times, and Metra is hoping to provide commuters with a viable and less stressful alternative to driving.
IDOT has advised commuters to exit earlier and use arterial roads for their commutes during the construction. They also suggested that commuters try different alternate routes based on their travel time and destination to minimize their impacts. The rehabilitation project will involve rehabilitating 36 bridge structures and the Reversible Lane Access Control (REVLAC) system, replacing overhead sign-structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting. Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will also be painted, and new LED lighting will be installed.
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