Kennedy rehabilitation update: Week 25
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street continued to progress the week of September 1. The following are highlights completed during the week:
Week of Sept. 1
- Latex concrete bridge deck preparation and placement.
- Lighting upgrades throughout the corridor.
- Structural concrete and steel repairs on bridge piers and concrete and steel beams under various bridges continues.
- Overhead sign foundation work.
- Painting of structural members of various bridges.
- Saw-cutting, removal, preparation and placement of concrete pavement patches at various locations continues.
- Bridge deck joint removal, forming concrete and placement continues.
- Routing and filling pavement cracks.
- Grooving and sealing various bridge decks.
- Hot mix asphalt paving of bridge approach pavement.
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Next week’s work will be focused on pavement milling and patching, asphalt placement, bridge joint demolition forming, bridge deck preparation, pouring of latex concrete decks, overhead sign installation, anti-graffiti coating placement on retaining walls, drainage structure cleaning and permanent pavement striping. Also, work is happening under the road as well as on it. While you might not see people in the work zone, they could be beneath the road.
As a reminder, the outbound Kennedy ramp to Armitage Avenue and the North Avenue (Illinois 64) ramp to outbound Kennedy are scheduled to reopen and the Damen Avenue exit ramp to close beginning, weather permitting, Sunday, Sept. 7.
The closure is necessary to safely complete repairs and pavement patching and is anticipated to reopen in late October.
All scheduled work is subject to change due to multiple factors, including inclement weather. In that event, schedules will be updated and shared with the public.
Additional ramp closures for varying durations will be required to complete the project. Details, schedules and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the individual closure dates.
Current ramp closures:
- Outbound Kennedy to Augusta Boulevard/Milwaukee Avenue, anticipated to reopen mid-October.
- Outbound Kennedy to Diversey Avenue, anticipated to reopen in mid-September.
- Fullerton Avenue to outbound Kennedy and the slip ramp portion to Western Avenue, anticipated to reopen mid-September.
- Outbound Kennedy to Addison Street, anticipated to reopen late September.
- Kimball Avenue ramp to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen late September
The public should follow the posted detours.
The reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, with two mainline outbound lanes closed at a time. The reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will remain closed.
The overall outbound Kennedy project is anticipated to be completed by Thanksgiving, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations.
The public should expect significant delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
Throughout construction, traveling during non-peak hours, taking alternative routes and utilizing public transportation, including the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line and Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line, as well as Pace, are recommended.
For more information, visit https://idot.illinois.gov/projects/Interstate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study. The website features project details, maps, photos and fact sheets. The public can email questions to DOT.KennedyRehab@illinois.gov. For systemwide traffic and road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.
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Maria Castaneda
Guy Tridgell