CTA

Events Affecting CTA Service Beginning the Weekend of May 29-31

May 29, 2009

Blue Line – Slow Zone Work

Blue Line Service between Clark/Lake and Western/Milwaukee Temporarily Suspended this Weekend

CTA will suspend rail service in the Blue Line Dearborn subway from Clark/Lake to Western/Milwaukee starting at 10 p.m. Friday, May 29 until 4 a.m. Monday, June 1 due to track replacement work.

Bus shuttles will operate as a substitute for rail service making stops at Western/Milwaukee, Damen, Division, Chicago, Grand and Clark/Lake. Both the Western/Milwaukee and Clark/Lake stations are accessible to customers with disabilities.

Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. (see separate release for details)

Red Line – Slow Zone Work

Daytime Reroute of Red Line Trains at Sheridan

A daytime reroute will be in effect for Red Line trains operating in both directions at the Sheridan station from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30, while crews replace deteriorated rail ties, tie plates and spikes.

During this time, northbound and southbound Red Line trains will operate on the Purple Express tracks.  Customers at the Sheridan station must board and exit trains from the outer platforms instead of the inner platforms.

Next Week

From 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. each day beginning Tuesday, June 2 through Friday, June 5, a daytime reroute will be in effect for Red Line trains operating in both directions at the Sheridan station while crews replace deteriorated rail ties, tie plates and spikes.

During these times, northbound and southbound Red Line trains will operate on the Purple Express tracks.  Customers at the Sheridan station must board and exit trains from the outer platforms instead of the inner platforms.

Red Line – Other Events Affecting Service

Red Line Subway Work Planned this Weekend

Red Line trains will be rerouted from the subway to the elevated structure in one direction only on Friday night, May 29 and in the opposite direction Saturday night, May 30, while crews perform track and power maintenance work.

Friday, May 29 – Southbound Only

Southbound service on the Red Line between the Fullerton and Cermak-Chinatown stations will be rerouted from the subway to the elevated tracks from 9 p.m. Friday, May 29 until 9 a.m. Saturday, May 30.

Rerouted southbound trains will stop at the following elevated stations between Fullerton and Cermak-Chinatown: Armitage, Sedgwick, Chicago/Franklin, Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Randolph/Wabash, Madison/Wabash, Adams/Wabash and Roosevelt/Wabash. Please note: the Merchandise Mart station is available as an exit only (via stairway) on Saturday from 12:50 a.m. to 5:10 a.m.

Southbound Red Line trains will operate normally between the Howard and Fullerton stations and between the Cermak-Chinatown and 95th Street stations. 

Saturday, May 30 – Northbound Only

Northbound service on the Red Line will be rerouted to the elevated tracks between the Cermak-Chinatown and Fullerton stations from 9 p.m. Saturday, May 30 until 9 a.m. Sunday, May 31.

Rerouted northbound trains will stop at the following elevated stations between Cermak/Chinatown and Fullerton: Roosevelt/Wabash, Adams/Wabash, Madison/Wabash, Randolph/Wabash, State/Lake, Clark/Lake, Merchandise Mart, Chicago/Franklin, Sedgwick and Armitage. Trains will then operate to Fullerton to resume regular routing. The Merchandise Mart station is available as an exit only (via stairway) from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Northbound Red Line trains will operate normally between the 95th Street and Cermak-Chinatown stations and between the Fullerton and Howard stations.

Red Line trains will resume normal service through the subway at 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. (see separate release for details)

Single Track in Effect for Red Line Trains on the Dan Ryan Branch

Due to track maintenance work, a late night single track will be in effect for southbound Red Line trains between the 87th Street and 95th Street stations from 11 p.m. Sunday, May 31 until 4 a.m. the following morning.

Southbound Red Line customers at the 87th Street station must board and exit trains from the northbound side of the platform.

Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.

Two-Phase Late Night Single Track between the 79th Street and 95th Street Stations

While track maintenance work continues along the Red Line, a two-phase late night single track will be in effect for southbound Red Line trains between the 79th Street and 95th Street stations from 11 p.m. Monday, June 1 until 4 a.m. the following morning.

Phase I – 87th Street to 95th Street

From 11 p.m. Monday, June 1 until 1 a.m. the following morning, southbound Red Line customers at the 87th Street station must board and exit trains from the northbound side of the platform.

Phase II – 79th Street  to 95th Street

From 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, southbound Red Line customers at the 79th Street and 87th Street stations must board and exit trains from the northbound side of the platform.

Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.

Single Track between the 79th Street and 87th Street Red Line Stations Continues

From 11 p.m. each night until 4 a.m. the following morning beginning Tuesday night, June 2 through Friday morning, June 5, a late night single track will be in effect for southbound Red Line trains between the 79th Street and 87th Street stations due to track maintenance work.

During these times, southbound Red Line customers at the 79th Street station must board and exit trains from the northbound side of the platform.

Customers are advised to allow extra travel time. CTA operators will announce the direction of each train.

New/Updated Changes in Bus Service

May Fest Temporarily Reroutes Buses

Leland Avenue between Western and Lincoln, and Lincoln Avenue between Leland and Wilson will be closed until 10 a.m. on Monday, June 1, for the annual May Fest. During this time #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick and #49B North Western buses will be temporarily rerouted.

Southbound #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick buses will travel over the regular route along Western past Leland to Montrose then will operate via Montrose to Lincoln and resume the regular route. Northbound #11 buses will operate over the regular route along Lincoln to Wilson then will travel via Wilson to Western and resume the regular route.

Southbound #49B North Western buses will travel over the regular route along Western past Leland to Montrose then will operate via Montrose, Lincoln, Wilson to Western and then resume the regular route.

Sewer Construction Work at the 69th Street Terminal Detours Westbound Buses

The CTA bus terminal located at the 69th Street Red Line station will be closed to all westbound bus traffic until 9 a.m. Monday, June 1, due to sewer construction work. During this time, five bus routes will be detoured.

Southbound #29 State buses will operate over the regular route along State to 69th Street then will travel via 69th Street, make a service stop on the bridge at 69th Street/Red Line, continue west to Lafayette and then resume the regular route south along Lafayette. Northbound #29 buses will travel over the regular route.

Northbound buses operating along the #30 South Chicago and #N5 South Shore Night Bus routes will travel over the regular route down 69th Street to State then will operate via State, Marquette, Lafayette, 69th Street to the bridge at 69th Street/Red Line for the end of route and start of southbound service. Southbound #30 and #N5 buses will continue east on 69th Street over the regular route.

Westbound #67 67th/69th/71st buses will travel over the regular route along 69th Street proceed past State, make a service stop on the bridge at 69th Street/Red Line and continue west along 69th Street over the regular route. Eastbound #67 buses will travel over the regular route.

During morning service hours, southbound #169 UPS Express buses will travel over the regular route along State to 69th Street then will operate via 69th Street, make a service stop on the bridge at 69th Street/Red Line and continue west along 69th Street over the regular route.

Southbound #169 UPS Express buses operating during the afternoon and evening hours will travel over the regular route along 69th Street to Lafayette then will operate via Lafayette, 71st Street, State, 69th Street, make a service stop on the bridge at 69th Street/Red Line and continue west along 69th Street over the regular route.

Northbound #169 buses will operate over the regular route.

Crane Lift Detours Two Routes in the Loop This Weekend

Clark Street between Washington and Madison will be closed to all traffic from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 30 until 6 a.m. Monday, June 1, due to a crane lift.

During this time, southbound #22 Clark and #24 Wentworth buses will travel over their regular routes along Clark to Randolph then will operate via Randolph, LaSalle, Monroe to Clark and then resume the regular route. Northbound #22 and #24 buses will travel over their regular routes.

Two Bus Routes Detoured for Helicopter Lift at Michigan and Randolph on Sunday

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, May 31, Randolph Street will be closed between Michigan and Columbus due to a helicopter lift. During this time, #4 Cottage Grove and #60 Blue Island buses will be temporarily detoured.

Northbound #4 and eastbound #60 buses will operate over the regular route along Michigan Avenue to Wacker then will travel via Wacker, Columbus to South Water for the end of route and start of southbound and westbound service, respectively.

Southbound #4 and westbound #60 buses will operate from South Water to Michigan and then resume their regular routes. 

14 CTA Bus Routes Affected Due to Jackson Viaduct Work

Beginning Monday, June 1, at approximately 9:30 a.m., 14 CTA bus routes will undergo service changes due to the reconstruction of the Jackson Boulevard viaduct between Canal and Wacker. The reroutes and bus stop changes are expected to remain in place until April 2010.

Among the changes to CTA services during this time will be the  removal of the southbound reverse-flow lane on Canal Street and discontinuation of the bus stops in front of Union station on the west side of Canal.

The following CTA bus routes will undergo service changes after the morning rush period on Monday, June 1:

  • #1 Indiana/Hyde Park
  • #7 Harrison
  • #X28 Stony Island Express
  • #38 Ogden/Taylor
  • #60 Blue Island/26th
  • #121 Union/Wacker Express
  • #123 Illinois Center/Union Express
  • #126 Jackson
  • #129 West Loop/South Loop
  • #130 Grant Park Treasures
  • #132 Goose Island Express
  • #151 Sheridan
  • #156 LaSalle
  • #157 Streeterville

IMPORTANT: see separate release for details

Westbound #78 Montrose Buses Temporarily Rerouted in June

The westbound lane of Montrose Avenue between Damen and Ashland will be closed to all traffic from 9 a.m. Monday, June 1 until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, due to water main repairs.

Westbound #78 Montrose buses will travel over the regular route along Montrose to Ashland then will operate via Ashland, Wilson, Damen to Montrose and then resume the regular route. Eastbound #78 buses will travel over the regular route.

Wednesday Night Reroute of Six Southbound CTA Buses along Michigan Avenue

Due to a crane lift, the southbound lanes of Michigan Avenue between Van Buren and Congress will be closed to all traffic from 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 until 6 a.m. the following morning.

During this time, southbound #3 King Drive, #4 Cottage Grove, #7 Harrison, #14 Jeffery Express, #126 Jackson and #147 Outer Drive Express buses will be temporarily detoured to adjacent streets.

Westbound #70 Division Buses Detoured Until Early-July due to Bridge Repairs

The westbound lanes of the Division Street Bridge over the north branch of the Chicago River will be closed to all traffic from 8 a.m. Monday, June 1 until 3 p.m. Friday, July 3, due to repair work.

Westbound #70 Division buses will operate over the regular route along Division to Halsted then will travel via Halsted, Chicago, Milwaukee Elston to Division and then resume the regular route. Eastbound #70 buses will travel the regular route.

Ongoing Bus Reroutes

Temporary Relocation of Bus Terminal at Ford City Mall

Until 3 p.m. Monday, June 8, the CTA bus terminal located at Ford City Mall will be temporarily relocated approximately 800 feet southeast due to construction. This terminal is served by #54B South Cicero and #79 79th buses.

#60 Blue Island/26th Buses Rerouted Due to Construction

Until Friday, July 17, #60 Blue Island/26th buses operating in both directions will be rerouted due to the closure of Laflin Street between Cermak and 21st Street and the closure of Loomis Street between Cermak and 18th Street. The street closures are due to construction work at the Benito Juarez School campus.

Eastbound #60 Blue Island buses will operate over the regular route along Blue Island to Ashland then will travel via Ashland, 18th Street to Loomis/Blue Island and then resume the regular route along Blue Island. Westbound #60 buses will travel over the regular route along Blue Island past Laflin to 21st Street then will operate via 21st Street, Ashland to Cermak/Blue Island and then resume the regular route along Blue Island.

Buses Rerouted on Saturdays for the Near North Farmer’s Market

From 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Saturday beginning May 16 through October 31, Division Street between State and Clark will be closed for the Near North Farmer’s Market.

Southbound #36 Broadway buses will travel over the regular route along Clark past Division to Maple then will operate via Maple to State and then resume the regular route. Northbound #36 buses will operate over the regular route along State to Elm then will travel via Elm to Clark and then resume the regular route.

Eastbound #70 Division buses will travel over the regular route along Division to Clark and then will operate via Clark, Maple to Dearborn and then resume the regular route. Westbound #70 buses are not affected and will travel over the regular route.

Buses Rerouted Due to Construction on Milwaukee Avenue

Eastbound #81W West Lawrence and northbound #91 Austin buses will be rerouted until Monday, November 30, due to construction on Milwaukee Avenue between Gale Street and Montrose Avenue.

Eastbound #81W West Lawrence and northbound #91 Austin buses will travel over their regular routes to Lawrence/Milwaukee to a far side stop then will continue eastbound on Lawrence to Lipps, heading north on Lipps to enter the Jefferson Park bus terminal.  Westbound #81W and southbound #91 buses are not affected and will travel along their regular routes.

# # #

Back to news
System status snapshot
‘L’ route status
Red Line
Normal Service
Blue Line
Normal Service
Brown Line
Normal Service
Green Line
Normal Service
Orange Line
Normal Service
Pink Line
Normal Service
Purple Line
Normal Service
Yellow Line
Normal Service
Bus routes w/alerts
Elevator alerts