42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Helicopter Lift - 222 W Erie

Midwest Helicopter was hired to lift a new boiler onto the roof of 222 W Erie Street. The lift will take place on Saturday, June 8 from 9am to 11am. During the lift, the following will be closed:

• Erie, from Wells to Orleans
• Franklin, from Ontario to Huron

Expansion Joint Repair - Wacker & Stetson

The City's Department of Transportation will be replacing the roadway and sidewalk expansion joints at the intersection of Wacker Drive and Stetson Avenue. 

The construction project is underway and will go through approximately June 24, 2024. 

All work will be performed during the day. Construction will occur in phases. Part of the roadway will be closed to traffic however once way traffic will be maintained through the duration of the project. At least one sidewalk will be open to pedestrian traffic during construction. Once the work is completed on one side of the roadway and sidewalk, the closures will switch over to the other side during the next phase.

Protected Bike Lane Installation: East Side of Clark, from Oak to Grand

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is expanding its protected bike lane network throughout the City. They have decided to install a southbound protected bike lane on the east side of North Clark Street, between West Oak Street and West Grand Avenue. This bike lane will connect to the westbound bike lane on the north side of West Grand Avenue.

CDOT's Scope of Work:

• Swap the location of the existing bike lane and parking lane. The bike lane will be adjacent to the curb and the parking lane will be between a lane of traffic and the bike lane.
• Install bicycle signals (select intersections).
• Install pedestrian bump-outs/refuge space.

Please click here to review CDOT's site plans. Work is currently underway.

Filming

Universal Television:

Universal Television, LLC will be filming several scenes in your neighborhood on Thursday, May 30^th. In order to park the necessary vehicles and equipment for filming, the following streets will be posted as a NO PARKING / TOW ZONE from 9:00PM Wednesday, May 29^th through 11:00PM Thursday, May 30^th:

•  North side of Huron from LaSalle to Wells
• East side of Wells from Erie to Superior
• West side of LaSalle from Huron to Superior

Please Note:  On Thursday, May 30^th, we will have INTERMITTENT TRAFFIC CONTROL on Huron from LaSalle to Wells during filming.

Commercial

On Thursday and Friday, May 30^th and 31^st, a commercial will be filming interior scenes at Fairmont Chicago, 200 N Columbus Dr. During filming, parking will be prohibited at the following locations: 

• Thursday, May 23rd, & Friday, May 31st, from 6AM to 9PM:
• South Side of Upper South Water from Stetson Ave to Columbus Dr
• East Side of Upper Stetson Ave from South Water St to Lake St

If you have any questions, concerns or special needs, PLEASE CONTACT: Jill Van Buren, 312-543-1311. 

Power Book Scene:

On Wednesday, May 29th, "Power Book IV: Force" will be filming exterior scenes at 242 Lower N Beaubien Ct. During prep, filming, and wrap up parking will be prohibited at the following locations: 

• Wednesday, May 29th at 5AM through Thursday, May 30th at 5PM
• South Side of Lower E South Water from Lower Lake to Lower Beaubien
• Both Sides of Upper Beaubien Ct from Upper Lake to Upper Randolph
• Wednesday, May 29th at 5AM through Thursday, May 30th at 5AM
• Both Sides of Lower E South Water from Lower Lake to Lower Beaubien
• Both Sides of Lower Beaubien from Lower E South Water south to end
• South Side of Lower Lower Wacker from Lower Lower Stetson to Lower Lower Columbus
• Both Sides of Columbus from Balbo to Congress

Please note there will be a closure of Upper Beaubien Ct from Lake to Randolph and of Lower Beaubien Ct from Lower South Water south to the dead end from Wednesday, May 29^th at 8PM through Thursday May 30^th at 3AM. 

If you have any questions, concerns or special needs, PLEASE CONTACT: Bobby Demakis, 224.588.2037, or Paola Lopez, 773.558.0745. 

Demolition Project: 720 North Wells Street / 207 West Superior Street

Milburn Demolition will began demolition of 720 North Wells Street and 207 West Superior Street this week. Work hours will be Monday - Friday, from 8am to 5pm. 

The following will be closed throughout the project:

• 40 feet of the north/south alley on the south side of West Superior Street, between North Franklin Street and North Wells Street
• Sidewalk and curb lane on the south side of West Superior Street, between North Wells Street and North Franklin Street
• Sidewalk and curb lane on the west side of North Wells Street, from West Superior Street to a point 48 feet south thereof. 

The bike lane on the west side of North Wells Street will remain open throughout the project. Demolition is expected to be completed by August 1, 2024 (weather dependent).

400 N LSD Construction Update

Below is an update on the construction activity at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive.

Week of 5/27

• Begin pouring of cap beam at Ogden slip
• Complete backfill of initial cofferdam walls
• Begin framing and rebar installation of the next stage of cofferdam walls
• Begin excavation of west cap beam
• Begin excavation of LSD ramp beam
• Note that due to the excavation of the existing LSD southbound ramp, this access point will be out of service
• This means that all deliveries will enter through Water Street and exit the site through the LSD northbound ramp

Week of 6/3

• Continue framing and rebar at cofferdam walls
• Continue framing and rebar at west cap beam and LSD ramp beam
• Southbound LSD will continue to be out of service
• Begin CSO relocation work

Week of 6/10

• Begin to pour cofferdam walls
• Continue framing and rebar of west cap beam and ramp cap beams
• Southbound LSD will continue to be out of service
• Continue CSO relocation work

Thompson Center Redevelopment Mobilization

Clark Construction began mobilizing for the Thompson Center Redevelopment project on Thursday, March 28. The following is what you can expect:

Clark Street - Clark Construction has installed jersey barriers and fencing along the west side of Clark Street, between Randolph Street and Lake Street. This stretch of Clark Street is reduced to one lane of southbound traffic. Pedestrians are being directed to the east side of the street - due to the sidewalk closure on the west side of Clark Street.

Randolph Street - On Monday, April 1, Clark Construction will begin building a pedestrian canopy on the north side of Randolph Street (sidewalk), between Clark Street and LaSalle Street. This work will occur during the overnight hours and take 4 days to complete.

LaSalle Street - At the end of next week, Clark Construction will begin erecting a pedestrian canopy on the east side of LaSalle Street (curb lane), between Randolph Street and Lake Street. The sidewalk on the east side of LaSalle will remain open until the canopy is built.

Lake Street - No changes through Wednesday, April 24.

Franklin Street Bridge Project

CDOT crews began sidewalk replacement and selective roadway grating replacement at the Franklin Avenue Bascule Bridge over the Main Branch of the Chicago River.

Scope of Work:

The project consists of performing the following repairs: replacement of bridge sidewalk with fiberglass sidewalk panels, selective roadway grating panels replacement.

Construction Schedule:

7:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, from Monday, March 18^th  until Friday, August 30^th. End date is tentative, contingent upon expected Central Business District Moratoriums.

Traffic Impact during Construction:

• Full closure of one sidewalk at all times.
• A single vehicular lane closure adjacent to the sidewalk being worked on at all times.
• One northbound though lane and northbound bike lane will remain open throughout during sidewalk repairs.

Lake Shore Drive Bridge Repairs

Bridge Repairs have began on the Upper level of DuSable Lake Shore Drive Bascule Bridge over the Main Branch of the Chicago River.

This work is separate from the ongoing Pin & Link work at the bridge and will not impact that construction, or require additional roadway closures. Details of the temporary sidewalk restrictions are below:

Scope of Work:

The work consists of upper level stringer repairs at the SE and NE bridge houses.

Construction Schedule:

• 8:00 pm - 6:00 am Sunday, March 10^th 2024 until Thursday, April 25^th 2024.
• Work will occur on Sunday nights - Thursday nights only. No work to occur on Friday nights or Saturday nights.

Traffic Impact during Construction: 

• The east sidewalk and bike path will be reduced to a shared travel lane in both directions during working hours.
• The east sidewalk and bike path will be completely open to pedestrians and bicyclists during non-working hours.
• This work will not impact the ongoing Pin & Link construction or cause additional road closures.
• The west sidewalk will remain completely open to pedestrian traffic at all times.

CDOT Construction: Pin & Link Plate Assembly and Expansion Joints

The Department of Transportation will begin a project to replace pin and link plate assemblies and expansion joints associated with the bridge structures of upper and intermediate Columbus Dr., Randolph St., and Stetson Ave. Pin and link plate assembly work will be performed from the underside of the bridge decks while expansion joint replacements will occur from above.  The work began in November 2023 and will progress to completion (anticipated Fall 2024).  

Work is to start along upper, intermediate, and lower levels of the following roadways: 

• N. Columbus Drive between E. Wacker Drive and E. Randolph Street
• E. Randolph Street between N. Michigan Avenue and N. Field Boulevard
• N. Stetson Avenue between E. Wacker Drive and E. Lake Street

During construction, portions of these bridge structures will be barricaded off to prohibit vehicles and pedestrians directly over the active work. 

• Vehicles will be shifted and/or detoured to allow the work to progress. 
• The sidewalk on at least one side of the roadway and crosswalks at roadway intersections will remain open for pedestrians. 
• Coordination of temporary access restriction may be required with private properties directly adjacent to the project.  



LSD Bridge & Viaduct Project - September 25 to Summer 2024

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) began working on the Lake Shore Drive Bridge and Viaduct Network between Monroe and Ontario. This work will include removing and replacing link plates, stainless steel pins, and Teflon bushings and expansion joint rehabilitation.  

Upper Level Lake Shore Drive will have one permanent lane closure in each direction and an additional lane closure during off-peak hours.

Intermediate Level Lake Shore Drive will have two permanent lane closures in each direction.

This project is expected to be completed summer of 2024.



State & Lake Utility Relocations

Utility companies began relocating utilities in advance of the State and Lake CTA project. Train services will not be disrupted during utility relocations. 

At least 1 lane of traffic will remain open (1 lane each direction on State St) at all times, but other driving and parking lanes may be closed. 

Construction equipment and materials will be stored on the street, including during time periods between active work. Work will primarily occur 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays, but there will be limited work during nights. Utility companies are aware of and required to abide by the Chicago noise ordinance, which limits noisy work during overnight hours.

Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation

In 2023, IDOT began rehabilitating the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street.

The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridges and the Reversible Lane Access Control system, replacing overhead sign structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.

The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following stages:

• 2023 – Inbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 1 fact sheet.
• 2024 – Reversible Express Lanes: Click here for stage 2 fact sheet.
• 2025 – Outbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 3 fact sheet.

The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.

Click here for a project overview.

Click here for a FAQ

Click here to see photos and videos of the project.