Heading downtown this weekend in Chicago? You may need to plan ahead for some major public transit changes.
The Chicago Transit Authority has announced it will stop service in the Loop along multiple elevated tracks between Saturday and Monday.
Here’s everything to know and how the service stop will impact your commute.
CTA to halt Loop “L” service through weekend
The CTA will halt service along multiple train lines in and around the Loop from 4 a.m. Saturday, October 24, until 4 a.m. Monday, October 26, in order to perform scheduled maintenance at the Loop and Lake junction.
The Loop and Lake junction, located at the intersection of Wells and Lake, is the largest of its kind within the CTA system, according to the transit organization.
The junction supports all elevated rail service in the Loop.
This weekend’s service stop will impact the Brown, Pink, Green, and Orange lines. Service changes are as follows:
- Green Line
- Trains will operate between Harlem/Lake and Clinton, and separately between Roosevelt and South Side train stations.
- Shuttle buses will operate between Clinton and Roosevelt, replacing the Clinton–Clark/Lake shuttle used during phase 1 of the Lake Street Bridge closure.
- Riders traveling to/from the Loop from the South Side can also transfer to Red Line service at Roosevelt station as an alternative.
- Brown Line
- Trains will operate between Kimball and Merchandise Mart.
- Riders traveling downtown can connect to the Loop by transferring to Red Line trains at Belmont and Fullerton stations.
- Shuttle buses will also connect customers between Merchandise Mart and Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren.
- Orange Line
- Trains will operate from Midway to Roosevelt.
- Customers traveling between Roosevelt and the Loop can use shuttle buses operating between Roosevelt and Clinton.
- Pink Line
- Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and the Racine Blue Line station.
- Riders can connect to the Loop by transferring between Pink and Blue Line trains at Racine.
- Pink Line trains will not operate around the Loop.
The CTA will roll out signage at impacted stations, along with customer alerts and platform announcements to help riders navigate the service changes.
The CTA notes riders should “plan ahead and allow additional travel time.”
Regular service will pick back up in time for the work week on Monday, October 26 at 4 a.m. Click here for additional resources.
