Attention Chicago drivers: After months of closures, heavy traffic and major congestion, your Kennedy Expressway commuter headache may start to ease up this weekend as all four outbound lanes on the busy highway are expected to reopen.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the $169 million rehabilitation on Interstate 90/94 — which has clogged up lanes from Ontario to the Edens Junction — is ahead of schedule and “moving into the final stretch,” with all mainline lanes back up-and-running by Sunday.
The project was expected to last until at least Thanksgiving, IDOT said. The reopening will beat that deadline.
The lanes will reopen in stages, IDOT says, with lane shifts and closures overnight Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday as the work zone is removed. Early Wednesday morning, the lane shifts were causing some congestion and backups on the outbound side, NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin said.
Although mainline lanes are set to reopen, the express lanes will remain locked in the outbound direction until November, Martin said. And, major ramp closures, including the Ontario Street feeder ramp to the outbound Kennedy are planned “within the next week or two” as pavement patching and safety repairs continue, IDOT said.
The Wilson Avenue exit ramp from the expressway is also scheduled to close beginning Oct. 6 “for an estimated two weeks,” IDOT said.
Additionally, work on the Ontario and Ohio feeder ramps will continue through the summer of 2026. According to IDOT, those closures are part of an “unrelated project.”
“Expect delays and allow extra time for trips through this area,” IDOT said. “Alternate routes are encouraged. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.”
Here’s what drivers can expect on the Kennedy Expressway leading up to the full reopening, though schedules may change and are weather dependent:
Wednesday, Oct. 1
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.
Overnight, 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.
Thursday, Oct. 2
By 5 a.m., the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from Damen Avenue heading north. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
Overnight, 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.
Friday, Oct. 3
By 5 a.m., 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.
Sunday, Oct. 5
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.
NBC Chicago Digital Producer Francie Swidler contributed to this story.
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