Many Chicago-area expressway commuters got little relief from construction congestion, as traffic began to back up on the first day of a three-year rehab of the Kennedy Expressway — and upcoming days could be worse.
Drivers might have thought they would get a break after the nine-year rebuild of the Jane Byrne Interchange, which connects major expressways near downtown, largely wrapped up in December. But for those heading between downtown and the north and northwest neighborhoods and suburbs, delays are back.
The first lane closures for the I-90 construction project began Monday night. By the start of Tuesday rush hour, between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., congestion stretched from around Irving Park Road north for some four miles onto the Kennedy and Edens expressways, Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman Maria Castaneda said.
And Wednesday morning could be worse. On the first morning, lanes were closed only between the I-94 junction and around Irving Park Road, but closures are expected to progress as setup for the project continues. Overnight Tuesday, the closures were expected to be extended to roughly the Fullerton Avenue exit.
Setup for the construction project is expected to take about a week, weather permitting. Then construction will begin.
The $150 million project will take place along a 7.5-mile stretch from the split at I-94 south to Ohio Street, and at the massive underpass near Hubbard Street downtown. It will include rehabbing 36 bridges and the highway’s reversible express-lane access system, replacing overhead signs, upgrading lighting, paving and painting.
Work will take place in three phases, starting with the inbound, or southbound, lanes, where closures began overnight Monday. Two regular inbound lanes will be closed at a time, and the reversible express lanes in the center of the highway will remain open in the inbound direction at all times.
Drivers will also encounter lane shifts and some exit ramp closures.
Work is scheduled to shift to the reversible express lanes in spring 2024, then to the outbound lanes in 2025. Work will also take place at a large downtown underpass between Ohio and Lake streets, known as Hubbard’s Cave.
Castaneda said congestion could ease somewhat as construction moves forward and drivers adjust to new patterns.
IDOT is recommending drivers adjust the times they travel to and from the city, or, if feasible, take a different expressway. The agency is also recommending commuters take public transit instead.
Metra’s staff already saw a noticeable increase Tuesday morning in riders on some trains serving the north and northwest suburbs, spokesman Michael Gillis said. Some trains were delayed because of an abandoned motorcycle on the tracks, but Gillis said that likely had little effect on ridership.
Metra is planning to add weekday trains to its Union Pacific Northwest Line, which runs alongside the Kennedy Expressway for much of the stretch that will be under construction. The new schedule will have trains running at least every 30 minutes during rush hour and hourly at most stations at other times.
The schedule changes will take effect April 3.
