Editor’s note: The video in the player above is from a previous report on construction at the State and Lake CTA station.
Chicago commuters will encounter a major change beginning this week, and it’s expected to last several years.
Starting Monday, the historic State and Lake “L” station in the Loop will shut down for a three-year reconstruction project. The 130-year-old elevated CTA station will be demolished and replaced with a modern facility featuring a glass canopy, wider platforms and expanded sidewalks beneath.
The redesigned station will include ADA-accessible at all corners and accessible connections to the Red Line subway station. During construction, trains on multiple lines will bypass the stop, and riders will be directed to nearby stations like Clark and Lake – plus Washington and Wabash.
Some commuters told NBC Chicago in December they were caught off guard by the plans and thought the three-year timeline was too long. The CTA previously said it announced the project more than a month ahead of time to minimize the impact on riders.
Drivers in the area should expect street closures and traffic changes around State and Lake streets. According to the CTA’s website, Lake Street will be limited to local traffic between Dearborn Street and Wabash Avenue to facilitate work under the tracks.
The existing southbound closure of State Street, meanwhile, will be extended from Wacker Drive to Washington Street. Northbound State Street at Lake Street will have all lanes open during the project “to alleviate congestion issues,” the transit agency said.
The renovated station is scheduled to open some time in 2029.
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