Outbound Kennedy lanes to fully reopen
Ramp work continues, overall project on pace to beat Thanksgiving deadline
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) rehabilitation is moving into the final stretch, with all mainline lanes reopening this week, putting the project on pace to finish before a Thanksgiving deadline. The work zone will continue to be removed from the outbound lanes in stages over several nights this week.
To facilitate the lanes reopening, the following overnight ramp and lane closures are scheduled to take place. All schedules are subject to change due to multiple factors, including inclement weather. In that event, updates will be shared with the public as far in advance as possible.
Tonight, Sept. 30
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between Diversey and Belmont avenues, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 5 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from Diversey Avenue heading north. Additionally, the outbound Kennedy ramp to Belmont/Kedzie Avenue and the California Avenue entrance ramp to the expressway will reopen. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between Damen and Diversey avenues, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 5 a.m. Thursday, the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from Damen Avenue heading north. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
Thursday, Oct. 2
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between North and Damen avenues, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 5 a.m. Friday, the outbound Kennedy lanes will be fully reopened from North Avenue heading north. The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction only.
Saturday, Oct. 4
- Starting at midnight, the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one lane between Ohio/Ontario Street and North Avenue, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At midnight, the express lanes will close.
- By 10 a.m. Sunday, the entire stretch of the outbound Kennedy will be fully reopened.
- Additionally, the outbound Kennedy ramps to Damen Avenue and to Augusta Boulevard/Milwaukee Avenue will reopen.
The express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction while final work continues. The reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will remain closed until then.
While the mainline lanes will reopen, work will continue through late October on several outbound ramps, the Wilson Avenue exit ramp from the expressway is schedule to close beginning, weather permitting, Monday night, Oct. 6, for an estimated two weeks. The closure is necessary to safely complete repairs and pavement patching.
Current ramp closures:
- Outbound Kennedy to Augusta Boulevard/Milwaukee Avenue, anticipated to reopen Oct. 5.
- Outbound Kennedy to Damen Avenue, anticipated to reopen Oct. 5.
- Outbound Kennedy to Belmont/Kedzie Avenue, anticipated to reopen Oct. 1.
- California Avenue ramp to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen Oct. 1.
- Outbound Kennedy to Division Street, anticipated to reopen mid-October.
At all times, the public should follow the posted detours, expect delays and allow extra time for trips through this area.
The Ontario Street feeder ramp to the outbound Kennedy will close within the next week or two. Details, schedules and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the closure date.
Additionally, work continues through next summer on the Ohio and Ontario Street feeder ramps, an unrelated project. Two lanes are open in each direction between Orleans Street and the Kennedy. Click here for more information.
Expect delays and 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.
Throughout construction, traveling during non-peak hours, taking alternate 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.
The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. It accommodates more than 275,000 cars and trucks per day.
Made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, the $169 million rehabilitation between Ohio Street and the Edens Expressway (I-94) started in 2023. It is taking place over three construction seasons, fixing 50-year-old bridges and other pavement that had been prone to failures and emergency closures.
A total of 36 bridges are being improved, as well as replacement of the reversible gate system in the express lanes. New signs and lighting were installed throughout the corridor, which also received new trees and landscaping.
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
