Ohio and Ontario Street feeder ramps anticipated to reopen by May 29
Pavement patching to be scheduled over three weekends this summer
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that repairs to the elevated bridges carrying Ohio and Ontario streets over the North Branch of the Chicago River, Union Pacific railroad and Kingsbury Street, in Chicago, are nearing completion with all lanes scheduled to reopen, weather permitting, by the morning commute on Friday, May 29.
Additionally, concrete pavement patching to repair the Ohio and Ontario ramps to the elevated bridges will take place later this summer. The work will require a full closure over three weekends alternating between Ohio and Ontario streets between the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) and Orleans Streets. Details and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the closure dates.
To safely apply new pavement markings and remove traffic barricades, the following overnight full closures will be required on Ohio and Ontario streets.
Wednesday, May 27
- Starting at 11 p.m. Wednesday, Ohio Street will be closed from the Kennedy Expressway to Orleans Street. By 5 a.m. Thursday, Ohio Street will be fully reopened.
Thursday, May 28
- Starting at 11 p.m. Thursday, Ontario Street will be closed from Orleans Street to the Kennedy Expressway. By 5 a.m. Friday, Ontario Street will be fully reopened.
The public can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Alternate routes are encouraged. 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.
The $15.4 million project replaced expansion joints, structural steel and deck repairs along with the installation of a new deck overlay and resurfacing on the elevated bridges. It was a separate project from the three-year rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway that concluded last fall.
Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve 7,107 lane miles of highway and 8.4 million square feet of bridge deck as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Six of Rebuild Illinois include almost $20.8 billion of improvements statewide to 21,309 lane miles of highway, 815 bridges and 1,181 additional safety improvements.
For more information on IDOT projects, click here. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.
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Maria Castaneda
Guy Tridgell
