Head's up, commuters: traffic on the Kennedy Expressway in and out of Chicago is about to change -- and so are your drive times -- as Phase 2 of the Illinois Department of Transportation's massive Kennedy expressway rehabilitation project begins.
Starting at 9 p.m. Monday, several temporary, inbound lane closures will begin as crews work to fully close the reversible express lanes in both directions. According to IDOT, the reversible express lanes from the Eden's Junction to Ohio Street will remain closed in both directions for at least eight months.
Phase 1 of the project, which disrupted typical commute times due to closures in the inbound local lanes and outbound express lanes, wrapped up in December.
According to NBC 5 Traffic Reporter Kye Martin, Phase 2 of the three-phase plan is also expected to cause backups and delays, especially as the work gets underway.
"The number one thing drivers can expect is a higher drive time, especially for the morning commute for the first few days of a traffic pattern," Martin said.
Martin said the lane reduction from 10 lanes total -- eight on each side of the local lanes, plus the two reversible express lanes -- to eight is likely to impact certain suburban or O'Hare commuters more than others.
"Phase two could be a bit worse, because the Express Lanes served a unique purpose of easing the load for a specific commuter: The commuters that are only going from the Eden's and Kennedy right to downtown," Martin said. "Those commuters were never mixing into the local lanes when those locals were closed. But now, without the reversals to carry the load both in and out, could phase two be even worse? It remains to be seen."
Local
According to Martin the express lane closures are expected to last through at least Thanksgiving.
Here's a breakdown of the temporary lane closures slated for this week, in addition to the full closures of the express lanes. According t IDOT, temporary closures will be picked up by 5 a.m. the following day in most instances, according to officials.
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Temporary closures for Phase 2
IDOT has provided the following temporary closures for Phase 2:
Monday, March 11
- Starting at 9 p.m., the inbound Kennedy and Edens will gradually be reduced to one lane from just before the Edens junction to Irving Park Road (Illinois 19).
- At the same time, the reversible express lanes will fully close. They are anticipated to reopen in late fall.
- The following intermittent ramp closures also will take place.
- Inbound Edens: Wilson Avenue
- Inbound Kennedy: Montrose Avenue and Irving Park Road
Tuesday, March 12
- Starting at 9 p.m., the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to two lanes between North (Illinois 64) and Fullerton avenues.
- At the same time, outbound Kennedy intermittent ramp closures between North and Fullerton avenues also will take place.
Wednesday, March 13
- Starting at 9 p.m., the inbound Kennedy will gradually be reduced to one lane from Milwaukee Avenue to Lake Street.
- At the same time, the outbound Kennedy between Madison Street and Milwaukee Avenue also will be reduced to one lane.
Thursday, March 14
- Starting at 9 p.m., the outbound Kennedy will gradually be reduced to one lane between North and Fullerton avenues.
- At the same time, intermittent outbound Kennedy ramp closures between North and Fullerton avenues will also take place.
According to IDOT, work schedules and construction are "highly weather dependent" and are subject to change.
Full closure of express lanes
Phase 2 of the construction will focus on the reversible express lanes, IDOT said, with the focus during the closure being the rehabilitation of the REVLAC (Reversible Lane and Control) system in those express lanes.
Advance work is expected to begin the week of March 4, weather permitting, with overnight closures of both the inbound and outbound express lanes anticipated between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., IDOT said.
The following week, more closures are expected.
MORE: Is There a Way Around Massive Construction Project on Kennedy Expressway? Yes and No, Experts Say
"To safely establish the work zone for the upcoming construction season, four consecutive nights of lane and ramp closures will be required in both directions of the Kennedy and Edens expressways," IDOT said, adding that ramps and lanes that were closed overnight are expected to reopen at 5 a.m. each morning.
"The reversible express lanes also will be closed starting Monday night through late fall, along with the left lane on both inbound Kennedy and Edens expressways, from just before the Kennedy/Edens junction to the reversible express lanes entrance at Montrose Avenue."
Additional lane closures
Other lane closures as part of Phase II are also scheduled for the week of March 11.
According to IDOT, bridge cleaning, painting and LED light installation at Hubbard’s Cave will require a closure of the left lane on the inbound Kennedy from Chicago Avenue to Lake Street, and on the outbound Kennedy from the Jane Byrne Interchange to Grand Avenue.
Additionally, the westbound Randolph Street ramp to the outbound Kennedy will close. It is anticipated to reopen later this fall, IDOT said.
"Drivers also should expect various overnight shoulder and intermittent lane closures in both directions of the expressway, between Milwaukee Avenue and Randolph Street," IDOT said in the release.
According to IDOT, this work is anticipated to be completed later this fall.
When does Phase 3 begin?
The final phase of the project will begin in the spring of 2025, with the outbound side of the roadway getting the finishing touches.
Much like the first phase did to the inbound side, two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time during construction, with the reversible express lanes remaining open in the outbound direction to help alleviate traffic flow.
New LED lights, painting and signage will be installed in “Hubbard’s Cave” on the outbound side.
These lane closures are expected to remain in place until late fall of 2025, according to IDOT officials.
