CHICAGO (WLS) — The ultimate section of the Kennedy Expressway rehab venture is underway, and the Illinois Division of Transportation is warning Chicago drivers to brace for much more delays.
Greater than 275,000 automobiles use the Kennedy Expressway daily.
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The categorical lanes will solely be going outbound till Thanksgiving.
“Visitors is all the time horrible,” stated truck driver Miguel Ramos.
IDOT introduced the long-awaited closing section of the Kennedy Expressway rehabilitation venture kicked in in March, marking the final stretch of a three-year overhaul that has examined the persistence of 1000’s of commuters.
“My commute is about to double! It is going to go from one hour to 2 hours!” commuter Monse Ortega stated.
Stage 3 of the Kennedy Bridge Reconstruction Venture will goal the outbound aspect of the I-90/94 from the Edens Expressway junction to Ohio Road, IDOT stated.
Crews will arrange work zones. Meaning in a single day ramp and lane closures from 9 p.m. to five a.m.
“That is Chicago. We have been doing that for years. They have been engaged on that expressway since shoot, once I was born,” rideshare driver Robert Upton stated. “So, you are mainly saying it is going to be onerous to do my job.”
The outbound lanes will bear repairs by way of Thanksgiving; commuters can anticipate important journey disruptions with lane closures, shifts and ramp shutdowns. Outbound Kennedy commuters will lose two mainline lanes, and the reversible categorical lanes will stay outbound-only.
So, in case you are heading to O’Hare, IDOT warns that these taking the categorical lanes will be unable to exit till Foster Avenue, that means downtown drivers ought to follow the mainline on the Kennedy.
“We do anticipate some motorists that need to get to O’Hare getting within the categorical lanes however what we have carried out is put up fairly just a few indicators downtown,” stated Jon Schumacher, bureau chief of development. “I drove by way of the River North space this morning there have been a ton of indicators down there we have put our messages on overhead indicators after which ought to a motorist get into the categorical lanes they are going to be pressured onto the Eden they’ll exit at Foster and we could have changeable indicators there with method discovering indicators to get them again to the outbound Kennedy to allow them to nonetheless make it O’Hare.”
The $169 million Kennedy Expressway rehabilitation began in 2023. Earlier this yr crews wrapped up enhancements to the reversible categorical lanes, whereas inbound lane repairs had been accomplished in 2023.
IDOT shall be repairing 19 bridges, re-patching pavement, and changing overhead indicators throughout this closing section of the venture.
For Ramos, there’s a silver lining alongside the expressway.
“Some truck drivers do receives a commission per set, per mile, however some do receives a commission per hour, so whoever is on the clock, they bought a fairly good benefit,” Ramos stated. “Extra hours, extra hours at work, since we’re on the highway driving, extra hours at work getting house late.”
Some ramp closures are scheduled to happen starting Could 19.
Monday, Could 19: Ogden Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in roughly one week.
Wednesday, Could 21: Outbound Kennedy to Division Road, anticipated to reopen in roughly one week.
Monday, Could 26: Outbound Kennedy to Ohio Road, anticipated to reopen in roughly one week.
Wednesday, Could 28: Keeler Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in roughly two weeks.
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