July 5, 2024

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Alderman Reilly Reports

NASCAR Chicago Street Race This Weekend

The NASCAR Street Race is scheduled for Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7. Visit NASCAR’s website to learn about race weekend activities.


Due to street closures, please allow yourself extra travel time. Please click here for a complete list of street closures.

Important Information Regarding Upcoming Larrabee Street Changes:

1-Way Configuration Between Erie & Superior

Please be advised that on Monday, July 8, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will complete the two-way to one-way (northbound) conversion of North Larrabee Street, between West Erie Street and West Superior Street (weather dependent). 


CDOT will be installing one-way signs and new pavement markings. During the reconfiguration process, North Larrabee Street will remain open to vehicular traffic.


18th District Commander Barz has assigned a patrol squad to North Larrabee Street to assist with the new traffic pattern. 

42nd Ward Blood Drive: Saturday, July 20th

In conjunction with the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Alderman Reilly is hosting a Blood Drive on Saturday, July 20 from 10am to 2pm. The event will take place at 126 East Chestnut Street in the Borwell Dining Room (1st floor). 


Walk-ins are welcome but we encourage you to schedule an appointment. Please see the flyer below for more information. 


A member of Alderman Reilly’s staff will be present to answer any questions. 

River North Lighting Program

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will be installing new light poles in the River North neighborhood in the coming weeks. The lighting improvements are occurring within the area bounded by Chicago Avenue, Orleans Street, Larrabee Street, and Ontario Street. 


This work will include infrastructure trenching and helix foundation and pole installation. Please note: This work will disrupt planter beds within the parkway


CDOT will begin working on Hudson, between Chicago and Erie next week. After that, CDOT will move to the following streets:

  • Huron, from Kingsbury to Sedgwick
  • Kingsbury, Ontario to Chicago 
  • Huron from Larrabee to Kingsbury
  • Superior from Larrabee to Kingsbury
  • Erie from Larrabee to Kingsbury


Please contact CDOT if your building has plantings, irrigation systems, or electrical components in a planter. You will need to remove anything you do not want damaged by the light pole installation.  


If you have any questions please contact Christopher Quinlan, General Foreman of the project, at Christopher.Quinlan@cityofchicago.org.

Gold Coast Water Main Project

This month, the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) started restoration on N Rush St from E Oak St to E Walton to replace the sidewalk, subbase and curb.


North Rush St from E Chestnut to E Walton will be closed to traffic during working hours, except for the garage parking traffic allowed on 911 N Rush, 57 E Delaware ( Bristol) & 50 E Chestnut ( Rush side entrance). Crew set up and breakdown closure daily. Rush St will remain open after working hours and over the weekend. Detour signage will be posted.


While working on Oak Street (from N Rush to N Michigan), eastbound traffic and westbound traffic will remain open during weekends. Westbound Oak Street will be closed during working hours and on weekdays for installation. Working hours are 7AM-3:30PM Monday - Friday. Hours may be extended to expedite the project.


Please click here to view a three week lookahead for this project.

CAPS Meetings

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

  • Beat 1824 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 16th at 6pm.
  • Beat 1831 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd at 5pm.
  • Beat 1832 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd at 6pm.
  • Beat 1833 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, July 25th at 5pm.
  • Beat 1834 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, July 25th at 6pm.

Click here for 18th District meeting locations.


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

  • Beat 111 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 10th at 5:30pm.
  • Beat 121 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 17th 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

Helicopter Lift - 333 W Wacker Drive


Midwest Helicopter was hired to lift HVAC units onto the roof of 333 W Wacker Drive. The lift is scheduled to occur on Saturday, July 20, from 9am to 11am. During the lift, the following will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic:


  • Wacker Drive, between Franklin and Lake


Upcoming CDOT Bridge Work - Michigan Avenue Bridge Sidewalk Repairs - SE Corner


CDOT crews are scheduled to perform the sidewalk repair work at the Michigan Avenue Bascule Bridge over the Main Branch of the Chicago River. These repairs are similar in scope to the sidewalk repairs completed on the southwest corner of this bridge in March.


Scope of Work:

The project consists of performing the following repairs: SE sidewalk concrete repairs.


Construction Schedule:

7:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, from Monday, July 8th until Friday, July 19th.

 

Traffic Impact during Construction:


  • Full closure of East sidewalk at all times.
  • A single Northbound vehicular lane closure adjacent to the sidewalk being worked on during working hours ONLY, and will go into place after rush hour.


225 W Randolph Street Vaulted Sidewalk Repair


The owner of 225 W Randolph Street will be rebuilding the following vaulted sidewalks adjacent to the property:


  • South side of Randolph, from Franklin to the east end of the building
  • West side of Franklin, from Randolph to the south end of the building


This project will begin on Monday, July 8th and will take approximately 3 weeks to rebuild each sidewalk. Pedestrians will be pushed to the opposite side of the street during construction. Click here to view their site plan.


Crane Lift: 12 E Ohio


On Saturday, July 13, from 8am to 4pm, there will be a crane lift at 12 E Ohio Street.


During the lift, the following will be closed:


  • Sidewalk on the south side of Ontario, from State to Rush
  • Curb & two traffic lanes on the south side of Ontario, from State to Rush


One lane of westbound traffic will be maintained.



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 August 1, 2024 (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.