More closures are set to begin in Spring 2025, IDOT has said, as part of the third and final stage of the construction
Honeymoon's over, drivers: Chicago traffic, construction and congestion on the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) will soon return as the Illinois Department of Transportation prepares for the third and final phase of its $150 million dollar rehabilitation project.
During a press conference Tuesday, IDOT officials said the last stage of the project -- now with a price tag of $169 million -- consisting of outbound Kennedy lane closures, bridge repairs and some reversible land closures, will begin during the morning commute March 18.
At least two outbound Kennedy local lanes will be closed at a time through the end of 2025, officials said during the presser. Reversible express lanes will remain in the outbound position through the duration of the construction IDOT officials said, stretching from Division to Foster only.
That means the outbound express lanes will not be able to take drivers directly to O'Hare International Airport, officials said, with exits only onto the Edens Expressway.
The news conference came less than three full months after the reversible express lanes on the Kennedy Expressway opened back up — one month behind schedule — for business in both directions after 10-month closure that led to lengthy delays and long commute times in and out of the city.
The closure of the lanes spanned only 7.5 miles, but fell at a "crucial" point in commutes from the north and northwest suburbs, NBC 5 Traffic Reporter Kye Martin noted, with more than 275,000 drivers on that stretch of road each day.
The first phase of the project, which completed in 2023, closed inbound lanes for months, along with outbound express lanes.
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According to officials, the entire project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2025.
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