Commuters taking the Kennedy Expressway: I’ve got news for you. A massive construction project, which begins today, is going to potentially impact your driving time. The Kennedy Expressway, which has officially been open since November 1960, first underwent construction in 1994. Now, it’s about time for an update.
If you’re used to taking the Kennedy Expressway, you might want to find an alternative route, according to officials as a new construction project on the 7.5-mile stretch officially kicks off today. The years-long project will see multiple closures and large impacts as construction goes on.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the project begins at Edens Expressway junction and continues to Ohio Street.
Keep reading to see what exactly this massive project entails:
- The city will rehab 36 bridge structures
- Rehabilitation for the reversible lane access control system
- They will replace overhead sign structures
- Install new signs and LED lights
- Patch pavement disruptions
- Paint long-standing structures
- Repaint the entirety of Hubbard’s Cave from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street
The work, which is expected to be done in three stages, begins today March 20 and will continue through 2025. Commuters can expect big delays as Stage 1 kicks off. While ramps and exits won’t be impacted right now, do expect traffic backup.
Stage 1: Starting today and going until July, two main inbound Kennedy lanes of the expressway will be closed at a time. The reversible express inbound lanes will remain open.
Stage 2: Mainline lane closures for Hubbard’s Cave between Ohio and Lake Street. Reversible express lanes will also be closed beginning in the spring of 2024 until the fall of 2024.
Stage 3: Beginning spring 2025 to fall 2025, outbound directions on Hubard’s Cave between Ohio and Lake streets will be impacted along with two main outbound lanes closing at a time. At this point, reversible express lanes will begin to open up in the outbound direction.
Travelers can expect lane closures and impacted traffic through to the project end date in 2025 as the project seeks to improve safety, traffic flow, and more for the many motorists who utilize this expressway.