The CTA will rebuild the tracks along the south Red Line, from Cermak-Chinatown to 95th/Dan Ryan - a project that will provide faster, more comfortable and more reliable service for Red Line riders.

The closure of the south portion of the Red Line to 95th which started Sunday May 19th, will last five months and impact the nine Red Line stations from Cermak-Chinatown to 95th/Dan Ryan. During that time, Red Line trains will be rerouted south of Roosevelt via the nearby-elevated structure Green Line trains between downtown and Ashland/63rd.

From just north of the Cermak-Chinatown station to the 95th Street station, crews will replace everything in the track bed: ties, rail, third rail, ballast (the stone material that holds the ties in place) and drainage systems. Some stations will also receive improvements ranging from new canopies, paint and lighting upgrades to new benches and bike racks. Additionally, the stations at Garfield, 63rd and 87th will get new elevators, making all stations on the South Side Red Line accessible. For more information on the reconstruction project, please click here for full details.

During construction, CTA will offer extensive alternate service providing multiple options for commuters.

1. Free shuttle buses with 24-hour service from 69th, 79th, 87th and 95th/Dan Ryan stations to the Garfield station on the Green Line, including express service from stations, with free entry at Garfield for shuttle bus riders, and a local, station-to-station shuttle from 63rd to 95th/Dan Ryan. A fifth shuttle will provide express service between the Roosevelt and Cermak-Chinatown stations.
2. Free rail entry for shuttle bus riders at Garfield on the Green Line
3. 50 cent discounted bus rides on many South Side routes
4. 24-hour Red Line service as far south as 63rd Street via Green Line tracks between Roosevelt and Ashland/63rd
5. Expanded bus service on existing routes

In addition, for some riders the Metra Electric District or Rock Island District lines may also be alternatives.

For more information about service alternatives available for commuters during the project, please click here.

Metra has established a detailed service plan as well.

Metra will be offering a combined fare product with the CTA and Pace and will be modifying the schedule of some of its Metra Electric line trains in order to assist CTA riders during the five-month shutdown of the Red Line on the South Side.

For CTA Red Line riders at the southernmost end of the line, the Metra Electric line and Metra Rock Island line may also be alternatives. The Metra Electric line runs to the east of the Red Line and transports riders to Van Buren Station and Millennium Station downtown. The Rock Island line runs to the west of the Red Line and transports riders to LaSalle St. Station downtown. For schedule and fare information on both lines, visit www.metrarail.com.

• Joint Fare Product
  
  To assist Red Line riders and encourage them to use a combination of CTA, Metra and/or Pace, the three agencies are offering a joint fare product that will be sold through the existing CTA retail network (Jewel, Walgreens, etc.) in the vicinity of the Red Line.

• Flag Stop Changes 
  To further assist Red Line riders, Metra will change flag stops to regular stops at five Metra Electric stations located in proximity to the Red Line for two inbound trains during the weekday morning rush hour, and two outbound trains in the weekday evening rush hour. Those stations are: 63rd St., 75th St. (Grand Crossing), 79th St. (Chatham), 87th St. (Woodruff) and 95th St. (Chicago State University). Trains will automatically stop at regular stops, but they will stop at flag stops only when passengers are visible on the platform or when passengers on the train inform a crew member that they want to get off there.
  

• Parking 
  Red Line riders wishing to drive to a Metra station should consider using the Gresham Station (820 W. 87th St.) or 103rd/Washington Heights Station (10335 S. Vincennes) on the main branch of the Rock Island line or the Brainerd Station (8901 S. Loomis) on the Beverly branch of the Rock Island line. The parking fee is $1.50 a day. Because there are no ticket agents at those stations, riders boarding there can buy one-way tickets on the train (cash only). The one-way fare from Gresham is $3, while the one-way fare from Brainerd and Washington Heights is $4.25. Ten-ride tickets and monthly passes can be purchased online at www.metrarail.com or from ticket agents at LaSalle St. Station.
  

Chicago Water Taxi is another great alternative.

2013 Sewer Lining Program - Michigan Ave. from Monroe to Adams

The Department of Water Management is scheduled to work on Sewer Lining Project on Friday, May 17, 2013. This project will rehabilitate the existing sewer in the area without the conventional digging method. This sewer rehabilitation will minimize, if not eliminate, street cave-ins due to failure in old sewers. In addition, it will bring better drainage to the area and may help alleviate flooding during heavy rain.

Boundaries: E. Michigan Av. - S. Monroe St. to 1 section S. of S. Adams St.

Sequence of Work:

1. The Catch Basins drainage structures on the curb-side will be cleaned and the pipes connection to the main sewer will be lined.
2. The Catch Basins and Sewer Manholes structures will be lined.
3. The main sewer will be cleaned and televised.
4. The main sewers will be lined.
5. After the main sewer is lined, the reinstatement of house drain services will proceed and must be completed to relieve the drains.
6. The lined sewer is televised to ensure that the work was done properly.

What to expect:

During work days, mobilization will start at 7:00 p.m. Actual work will begin at 8:00 p.m. Work is expected to be completed in a 20 hour period. No Parking signs will be posted in the immediate area of work a day before any scheduled work. Residents are urged to move their vehicles away from the worksite to avoid being towed. It will be necessary to close lanes of these streets to ensure public safety during work hours. Equipment and materials will be on the street during the work. If necessary, detours and alternatives bus stops will be posted.

During the main sewer lining work, to prevent odors in your home, please pour two to three cups of water into each basement floor drain. Please restrict your water usage as much as possible. A City Engineer will be on site during the work to answer any questions from the residents.

This project is expected to be completed by late June 2013.

Any damages in the area as a result of the sewer lining work will be restored to its pre-lining state. However, the Department of Water Management does not assume responsibility for damage to privately installed parkway improvements, including: sprinkling systems, fences, flower beds and shrubbery. Sewer lining is not complete until damaged sidewalks, parkways and streets have been repaired. If you have additional questions, please call 311.

Dearborn Street Resurfacing

Construction on the Dearborn Street Resurfacing project, from Chicago Avenue to North Boulevard, begins this Monday, May 13. All the work will occur during the day, with no weekend work is anticipated.  Traffic management will be on site during construction.

Temporary "No Parking" signs will be periodically installed as required for curb and gutter removal and replacement, asphalt surface grinding, utility structure adjustments, asphalt paving, and pavement marking striping.  These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work.  All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed by June 28, 2013.

The Dearborn Street Resurfacing Project is part of the Chicago Department of Transportation's Arterial Street Resurfacing - Central Area Project. 

ADA Ramp Improvement - Michigan Ave. Corridor

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin a project starting Monday, May 6 to improve several sidewalks along Michigan Avenue and Garland Court from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.

The work entails the installation of sidewalk corners that meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The new corners will feature wheelchair-accessible ramps and detectible warning surfaces for the visually impaired. Also, the street corners adjacent to the ramp locations will be repaved.

Pedestrian Impacts

During construction all sidewalks will remain open.  Pedestrians will be directed to temporary sidewalks in areas where work is occurring.

Traffic Impacts

In construction areas, one lane of traffic will be closed.  Some detours will be posted to direct traffic around the affected areas.

Building Impacts

Access will be maintained to all buildings and businesses along the impacted streets.

CTA Impacts

Some CTA bus stops will be temporarily relocated.

Project Schedule

Work on this project begins Monday, May 6, and be completed by the end of the year.  Work will only take place between the hours of 9:30am – 3:30pm.  There will be no overnight work. 

For more information regarding this project, please click on the following links to view the project flyer and location map.  You may also contact Vasile Jurca at CDOT (312) 744-0646 or Borut Vujic with Collins Engineering at (312) 519-1218, or visit the CDOT web site at www.cityofchicago.org/transportation. 

Wells Street Bridge Closed for Reconstruction

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed the Wells Street Bridge over the Chicago River to traffic and pedestrians since Monday, November 5, 2012 for a year-long reconstruction of the historic structure. Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) trains will continue to use the bridge during the project, except for two minor service interruptions next spring.

The Wells Street Bridge has been in use for 90 years and serves as a key transportation link for cars, trains, bikes and pedestrians, but has outlived its useful life and requires a complete reconstruction. The bridge's historic elements, railings, bridge houses and major structural components will be replaced to preserve the 1920s look of the bridge. Crews will replace the trusses and all of the steel framing for the lower level road and upper level railway structures. The mechanical and electrical components will also be replaced.

Work is underway, and the project is expected to be complete by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013.   

For more information, please visit CDOT's website. If you have any questions about the project, please contact the Chicago Department of Transportation's Division of Engineering at cdotnews@cityofchicago.org or 312-744-3520.

Clark/Division CTA Station Renovation

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is currently renovating the 70-year-old Clark/Division Red Line Station - the first major renovation since it opened during World War II. The station will remain open but the work requires a temporary closure of a portion of Division Street.

The project will rebuild the original 1940's mezzanine and platform, and build a new mezzanine at LaSalle Street and Division.   Construction of the new 8,800-square-foot mezzanine at LaSalle will increase the entering/exiting capacity of the station by adding stairs, fare turnstiles, elevators and escalators.

Major highlights of the renovation project include:

The new mezzanine at LaSalle will to open to CTA customers in September 2014.   The renovation will continue on the original portions of the station to mid-2015.  

LaSalle and Clark will remain open to all traffic throughout the construction project.  However, one half-block of Division, from LaSalle to the alley west of Clark Street, will be closed to traffic for approximately one year.  Division will partially reopen to traffic next fall with one eastbound lane for about nine months.  After Division fully reopens to traffic, the construction will continue underground for several additional months.

Pedestrian access will be maintained on one side of Division at all times during the construction period.   CDOT will closely monitor vehicular and pedestrian movement, while traffic aides will help to minimize the impact of construction.

As a result of the closure, nine (9) bus stop changes are in effect, impacting the following bus lines: #36, #70 and #22.   Please click on the following link to view a MAP of the bus reroutes associated with this closure.

Eastbound traffic on Division will be rerouted south on LaSalle to Chicago Avenue, east to Dearborn Street and back north to Division.  Westbound traffic on Division will be rerouted south on Clark to Chicago, west to LaSalle and back north to Division.

To learn more, please click on the following links: Project Flier 1 and Project Flier 2.