Property demolition and advance utility relocation work
Update: March 2019
In 2018, we began the pre-construction phase of Red and Purple Line Modernization (RPM) Phase One, which includes property demolition and relocation of utility lines and equipment. It’s necessary to complete this work before we can begin the Phase One work, which will include rebuilding four Red Line stations (Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr and adjacent track structure as well as constructing a new Red-Purple Bypass (RPB) north of Belmont station. The major construction work for Phase One is tentatively expected to begin in late 2019 and be completed in 2025.
New: Addison track improvement work begins March 8, 2019
As part of our ongoing investment to improve rail service, the CTA will make track improvements on the Red Line at Addison to eliminate slow zones and to minimize the potential for existing track conditions to evolve into future slow zones during RPM Phase One construction. The Addison work begins March 8 and will be completed April 1, ahead of the Cubs home opener on April 8. The track improvements near Addison will provide smoother rides by replacing aging track equipment and will improve service reliability over the long term. For more information, click on the link below to see our informational flyers.
Property demolition
To modernize our rail infrastructure under RPM Phase One, we determined that we needed to acquire a small number of properties so we could build and stage construction equipment. While some properties we’ve purchased will be locations for future rail infrastructure, others will be available for development after construction is completed.
Beginning in Spring 2018, we began pre-construction work associated with the Red-Purple Bypass project. This work consisted of demolition of 10 buildings on Wilton Avenue and Clark Street and is now complete. Demolition of the remaining four buildings in the bypass area is expected to be substantially completed in late Winter 2019.
Additional details and maps outlining demolition work are available for download:
Red-Purple Bypass project area spring demolition
Red-Purple Bypass project area fall demolition
Lawrence to Bryn Mawr project area fall demolition
Advance utility relocation work
To build modern stations and track structures that will provide better service to our customers, we need to relocate utility poles and wires near our tracks from overhead to underground so that the ‘L’ tracks can be rebuilt and new, larger and stations can be constructed.
We’ve begun the relocation of utility equipment, working with ComEd, AT&T and other utility service providers in both the Red-Purple Bypass (RPB) and the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization (LBMM) project areas.
Leading up to and during this work, we have been conducting extensive outreach and working closely with neighbors, business owners, and community groups to advise of upcoming work and what to expect. The impacts to the community will include occasional temporary alley and street/lane closures, and we’re providing notice to local communities as the work occurs.
All utility relocation work is expected to be completed in the second half of 2019.
Additional details and maps outlining pre-construction work, including the presentation from the April 18, 2018 community meeting are available for download:
LBMM community meeting presentation - 04/18/18
RPB community meeting presentation – 02/15/18
LBMM pre-construction utility relocation work
RPB pre-construction utility relocation work
Construction activity notices (CANs)
As we work hard to modernize the system for our riders, we know that our construction can and does affect people who live and work nearby. That is true for the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One project, which is why we make sure that we provide advanced notice to communities in the project footprint ahead of time about work that we will be doing.
Construction Activity Notices (CANs) that we have issued for RPM Phase One work can be found here (scroll down the page). They are also emailed to affected residents and businesses and physically posted in work site areas.