CHICAGO (WGN) — The Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation Project is nearing completion, as the Illinois Department of Transportation said Tuesday that construction is entering its final stretch.
IDOT says mainline lanes on the Kennedy (I-90/94) will soon reopen. As a result, various overnight ramp and lane closures are scheduled to take place:
- Tuesday, Sept. 30:
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between Diversey and Belmont avenues, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from Diversey Avenue heading north. Additionally, the outbound Kennedy ramp to Belmont/Kedzie Avenue and the California Avenue entrance ramp to the expressway will reopen. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
- Wednesday, Oct. 1
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between Damen and Diversey avenues, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 5 a.m. Thursday, the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from Damen Avenue heading north. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
- Thursday, Oct. 2
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between North and Damen avenues, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 5 a.m. Friday, the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from North Avenue heading north. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
- Saturday, Oct. 4
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between Ohio/Ontario Street and North Avenue, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 10 a.m. Sunday, the entire stretch of the outbound Kennedy will be fully reopened.
- Additionally, the outbound Kennedy ramps to Damen Avenue and to Augusta Boulevard/Milwaukee Avenue will reopen.
Work will continue through late October on several outbound ramps despite mainline lanes reopening, IDOT added. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction while final work is in progress. The reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will remain closed until then.
The Wilson Avenue exit ramp is scheduled to close beginning Monday night, Oct. 6, for a period of two weeks for repairs and pavement patching, according to IDOT.
The following ramp closures remain:
- Outbound Kennedy to Augusta Boulevard/Milwaukee Avenue, anticipated to reopen on Oct. 5.
- Outbound Kennedy to Damen Avenue, anticipated to reopen on Oct. 5.
- Outbound Kennedy to Belmont/Kedzie Avenue, anticipated to reopen on Oct. 1.
- California Avenue ramp to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen on Oct. 1.
- Outbound Kennedy to Division Street, anticipated to reopen mid-October.
Click HERE for more information on the Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation Project.
IDOT reiterated that the entire Kennedy project, which began in 2023, remains on pace to be completed by Thanksgiving, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations.
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