Kennedy Expressway lanes opening as construction eases
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Goodbye, gridlock! Lanes are starting to reopen along the Kennedy Expressway.
Driving the news: A phased reopening of lanes and ramps on the inbound Kennedy and Edens expressways begins Friday morning, and it should be completed by Tuesday morning rush hour.
Why it matters: North Side commuters have been pulling their hair out since March, when construction on the project forced the closing of multiple lanes and exit ramps.
State of play: Reopening the inbound lanes marks the end of the first leg of a three-year project, which will include work on express lanes next year and outbound lanes on the Kennedy in 2025.
Zoom in: Starting Friday at 8pm, inbound from Keeler Avenue to Kimball Avenue will become one lane, but will be fully reopened by Tuesday.
- Only alternating ramps will be open between Keeler and Kimball.
- Beginning Monday night, drivers will have only one lane from the Edens junction south to Keeler.
- Wilson and Elston ramps will be closed from the inbound Edens on Monday night but are slated to open the next morning.
Yes, but: The work and schedule are highly weather dependent, IDOT says, and if overnight work is canceled, it will be rescheduled for when weather allows.
The big picture: The $150 million project will rehab 36 bridge structures, pavement patching, and the Reversible Lane Access Control (REVLAC) system, and will install new signage and modernized LED lights.
What's next: The Kennedy construction is part of the $33.2 billion Rebuild Illinois capital program that's slated to improve more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges.