August 9, 2024

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Alderman Reilly Reports

Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain Reopening Celebration

Streeterville residents have expressed their disappointment with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) multi year restoration timeline for Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain, which has been inoperative since 2021. Alderman Reilly shares their concerns and has repeatedly asked MWRD to expedite repairs to Centennial Fountain. 


Alderman Reilly is pleased to announce MWRD has completed a massive overhaul of Centennial Fountain and the fountain is now operable. 


Join MWRD, Alderman Reilly, and special guests for the official Centennial Fountain Reopening Celebration on Friday, August 16 at 11:30 am. The celebration will take place on the riverwalk at 400 North McClurg Court.


The Alderman would like to thank MRWD President Kari Steele and Commissioner Marcelino Garcia for heeding his relentless, repeated requests to fix the fountain.  Alderman Reilly gives special thanks to residents Debbie Gershbein (President of SOAR), Gail Spreen, and Elizabeth Melas for their advocacy on this issue. 


The Alderman hopes to see you at the celebration.

Chicago Air and Water Show: Saturday-Sunday, August 10 & 11, 2024

The Chicago Air & Water Show is scheduled for Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11, from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. 


The event takes place along Chicago’s lakefront between Fullerton Avenue and Oak Street. North Avenue Beach (located in the 43rd Ward) will serve as center stage for the show. 


The popular lakefront event features a wide variety of military and civilian performers and aerial demonstration teams with world-class pilots performing their aerobatic maneuvers.. 


The headliners include the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. The show will feature stunt pilot RJ Gritter aboard an acrobatic Decathlon 150 CS and the Trojan Phlyers who will show off their historical North American Aviation Company T-28B aircraft. For more information, visit ChicagoAirandWaterShow.us.

Democratic National Convention and Secret Service Security Notice

On Thursday, July 25, the Committee on Public Safety held a Hearing to discuss safety measures for the Democratic National Convention (DNC). At the Hearing, we heard from Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Department of Transportation, OEMC, the Mayor’s Office, and many other City Departments. Please click here to listen to the Hearing. 


Please note, increased local security measures will be in place around Chicago’s United Center and McCormick Place in the days leading up to, during, and immediately following the 2024 Democratic National Convention.


The U.S. Secret Service, in conjunction with Federal, state, and local partners, released maps of security perimeters that will be in-place around both venues during the upcoming convention in Chicago, which runs from August 19 through August 22.


Starting Friday, August 16 at 10 pm, temporary road closures and enforcement of pedestrian and vehicle security perimeters will be in effect around McCormick Place. Additionally, beginning Saturday, August 17 at 7 pm, similar restrictions will be in-place near the United Center. DNC security measures will be in-place through Friday, August 23. 


The secure areas for the event are divided into a Vehicle Screening Perimeter and a Pedestrian Restricted Perimeter. The maps below show both perimeters for each venue. 


Please visit OEMC’s website for more information and to sign up for OEMC alerts to stay up to date.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS018District@chicagopolice.org)

  • There are no CAPS meetings scheduled for this district for the month of August.


Click here for 18th District meeting locations.


1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS001District@chicagopolice.org)

  • Beat 114 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 14th at 5:30pm.


A Message from Chicago DNC 2024 Near North Neighborhood Ambassador

"Hi - My name is Susan Cotton and I am honored to be the Near North Neighborhood Ambassador to the upcoming DNC through the DNC Host Committee. As one of the thousands of volunteers representing all 77 neighborhoods, I look forward to helping showcase our city and make this the most successful convention in history! As you know we will be welcoming 50,000 visitors to Chicago during the convention.  


Volunteers will play a critical role in bringing the Convention to life - welcoming guests, introducing the city, ushering at events, providing transportation and much more." 

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Independent Filming


On Monday, August 12th, there will be filming of exterior scenes at Roberts Pizza, 465 N McClurg Ct. During filming, parking will be prohibited at the following locations: 


  • East Side of McClurg Ct from Illinois St to North Water St (Monday, August 12th, from 7:00AM to 2:00PM)
  • West Side of McClurg Ct from Illinois St south 150ft (Monday, August 12th, from 7:00AM to 2:00PM)


If you have any questions, concerns or special needs, please contact Matthew Cholewick, 708-527-8289 or Bruce Davis, 312-399-4327.


Added Bus Stops

Due to the Expanded Outdoor Dining program, the following bus stops will be implemented, effective on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 3:00 pm until Thursday, October 31, 2024 or completion.


Clark at Kinzie (southbound, nearside)—Temporary bus stop elimination

Stop ID Number: 1861

Route Stopping: #22 – Clark

 

LaSalle at Grand (southbound, farside)—Temporary bus stop route added onto existing bus stop

Stop ID Number: 4961

Route Stopping: #22– Clark, #156 - LaSalle

 

LaSalle at Hubbard (southbound, farside)—Temporary bus stop route added onto existing bus stop

Stop ID Number: 4962

Route Stopping: #22– Clark, #156 - LaSalle

 

LaSalle at 320 North (southbound, farside)—Temporary bus stop route added onto existing bus stop

Stop ID Number: 4963

Route Stopping: #22– Clark, #156 - LaSalle


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.


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


Milburn Demolition concluded its demolition of 207 West Superior Street and began demolition of 720 North Wells Street last week. Work hours will remain 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 the end of August (weather dependent).


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 18th  until Friday, August 30th. 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.



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.  


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.