Interactive construction activity map
Construction overview
Construction of the Red Line Extension will be performed in six zones between 95th Street and 130th Street. The contractor, Walsh VINCI Transit Community Partners, will move around throughout the construction period 2026-2030, working in different zones and often in more than one zone at a time to coordinate similar work activities and ensure the work is done efficiently. Since 2024, CTA contractors have performed several activities to prepare construction sites for new tracks and stations. Preparatory work includes property demolition, soil testing, site inspections, surveying, tree removal and utility relocation.
New elevated track structure will be built between 95th and 119th. To build the elevated track, Walsh VINCI began drilling holes to pour concrete for foundational columns. A portion of the elevated concrete structure will be manufactured off-site to reduce the impact to people living and working near the project. The concrete bridge segments will be trucked into the project area, one by one, and assembled via a gantry system.
The new track between 119th and 130th will be built at ground level. To build the at-grade track, crews will begin leveling the ground to ensure proper drainage and provide a stable base for structures. Contractors will also build protected pathways for underground utilities.
Expected Impacts
- Noise and vibration
- Street closures
- Alley closures
- Dust and truck traffic
- Traffic lane and sidewalk closures
- Nighttime lighting
Mitigations
- Noisiest activities will be performed during daytime hours whenever possible
- Noise mitigation with sound blankets, where feasible
- Dust mitigation including the use of water hoses
- Street sweeping
- Pest abatement
- Haul roads
- Use of glare-diffusing light fixtures or shields
Haul roads
Crews and equipment will enter and exit work zones, transporting material to and from the site. Flaggers will be on site to assist with traffic flow around the work zones as needed. There will be dust while the work activity is being performed, and the contractor will implement the necessary procedures to mitigate the dust. View the haul roads map to see where transportation of materials will occur.
Noise monitoring
The contractor is installing monitors to measure pre-construction noise levels, followed by noise monitoring post-construction to ensure construction noise isn’t excessive.
The short and long-term monitors will be placed in locations south of 95th Street along the Dan Ryan to Eggleston Avenue; and then along the Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks south of the Dan Ryan Expressway to the area south of 130th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.
Advance utility relocation
CTA since 2024 has been relocating utility equipment to clear the way for new track and station construction to avoid delays in the project when major construction is under way. The work has included:
- New underground trenches and relocating power and communication lines
- Shorter poles will be installed to provide service to adjacent properties
- Relocating power transformers on poles to underground
The area of this work is located across the project area from 95th Street to south of 130th Street.
Contractors intend to complete utility work for multiple utilities in one location to reduce number of street and alley closures.
Security
Safety and security for the community is a top priority, including proactively ensuring that properties that are awaiting demolition are secured and do not become nuisances for neighbors.
To do this, we work closely with a property management company, East Lake Management, that secures and regularly monitors and inspects all CTA-owned properties, addressing any issues that arise and swiftly responding to any questions or concerns raised by community members.
East Lake secures properties by conducting comprehensive site surveys, removing debris, boarding up windows, changing locks, mowing and weed removal graffiti removal, and snow removal. Any issues spotted or reported will be immediately addressed. Any criminal activity that is suspected or observed is immediately reported to Chicago Police.
While we make consistent efforts to be a good neighbor and steward of CTA properties, we strongly encourage neighbors to if they see something, say something by calling East Lake Management at (312) 842-5500. Any illegal or nuisance activity is unacceptable to CTA and we strongly recommend neighbors to call 911 if they believe they are in danger or witness what they believe to be criminal activity.
REDefine Southside Partners Joint Venture (RSPJV), the CTA’s construction manager for the Red Line Extension Project, will also install video cameras to monitor and document work activity on the RLE construction site. The sole purpose of the cameras will be to monitor and document work activity on the RLE construction site.
Construction activity notices (CANs)
As we work hard to build the Red Line Extension, we know that our construction can and does affect people who live and work nearby. This is why we provide advanced notice to communities in the RLE project footprint about work that we will be doing. These Construction Activity Notices (CANs) are also emailed to affected residents and businesses and physically posted in work site areas.
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Check out planning and advance construction information from prior years on the archive page.