Lake Street Bridge West Leaf Reconstruction Complete, CTA Green and Pink Line Service to Return to Normal Thursday Morning

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has completed installation of the new west leaf of the Lake Street Bascule Bridge, a major milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation of the 110-year-old bridge. Normal CTA Green and Pink line service will resume at 4:00 a.m. Thursday, October 29, following a service interruption needed to accommodate the bridge leaf replacement.

The new, prefabricated west leaf was assembled off site and transported up the Chicago River by barge. Crews removed the existing leaf, then positioned and installed the replacement during the temporary CTA Green and Pink line shutdown. Work also included aligning and stabilizing the new components; rebuilding CTA tracks, ties, guard systems and walkways; reconnecting and testing power and signal systems; and operating test trains before regular service resumed. 

CDOT thanks riders for their patience throughout the disruption as crews completed this critical bridge work. CDOT and CTA coordinated closely throughout the work, with CTA leveraging the planned service interruption to complete additional repairs at the Loop and Lake Junction over the weekend.

Built in 1916, the Lake Street Bridge is a double-deck, double-leaf, movable bridge that accommodates river traffic, carries vehicles, pedestrians and CTA buses on its lower level, and CTA Green and Pink line trains on its upper level. The two-year project will fully rehabilitate the structure so it can serve Chicago for generations to come, while maintaining its historic character. 

Installation of the bridge’s east leaf is planned for spring 2027, which will require similar impacts to CTA Green and Pink line service. CDOT and CTA will share details about the timing and anticipated impacts as the work approaches. The bridge’s lower level remains closed to vehicles and pedestrians while rehabilitation continues. The Bridge is expected to fully reopen in January 2028. More information is available on the CDOT project webpage.  

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