Kennedy rehabilitation update: Week 8
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 May 5. The following are highlights completed during the week:
Week of May 5
- Structural concrete and steel repairs on bridge piers and concrete beams under various bridges continues.
- 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.
- Repairs of the retaining wall along the expressway and the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line continues.
- Latex concrete deck pours continue.
Next week’s work will be focused on pavement patching, bridge joint demolition forming and pouring as well as retaining wall repairs. All scheduled work is subject to change due to multiple factors, including inclement weather. 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, through the duration of the project the reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, with two mainline outbound lanes closed at a time. During the first stage, the reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will be closed, with traffic in the express lanes unable to exit until the Edens Expressway at Foster Avenue. Drivers going to I-90 or O’Hare International Airport from downtown Chicago must stay on the mainline Kennedy and not the express lanes. This configuration is expected to remain in place until mid-July.
This year is the third and final phase of the three-year Kennedy project and focused on the outbound lanes All lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations is anticipated around Thanksgiving.
Throughout construction, traveling during non-peak hours, taking alternative routes and utilizing public transportation, including the CTA’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.
Nearby unrelated projects
Below are links to nearby unrelated projects:
Addison Street bridge repairs begin May 12.
Addison Street bridge repairs begin May 12
Ohio/Ontario Street feeder ramp ongoing project.
Ohio and Ontario Street feeder ramps lane closures begin Nov. 17
Foster Avenue bridge over the Kennedy – this project is north of the ongoing Kennedy rehab.
Click here and here to view and download b-roll of recent work on the outbound Kennedy.
# # #
Maria Castaneda
Guy Tridgell
