Track work along the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line continues this weekend as part of CTA’s Your New Blue project, requiring the temporary suspension of train service between the Western and Logan Square stations beginning 10 p.m. Friday, May 9 until 4 a.m. Monday, May 12.
The $492 million Your New Blue track and station improvement program includes track work that will provide smoother, more reliable commutes for customers.
For customers at the Western, California and Logan Square stations, CTA will provide free bus shuttles that will operate 24 hours a day serving each affected station. Free transfers back into the rail stations will be provided to allow customers to resume their trips. For customers with disabilities, shuttles will provide service to the closest accessible station.
Customers are strongly encouraged to allow 15-20 minutes of extra travel time when using the Blue Line O’Hare branch this weekend.
Train service will be restored at 4 a.m. Monday, in time for the morning rush period.
Weekend work will require some street closures and parking restrictions near the elevated structure. The following streets under CTA tracks will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday through
4 a.m. Monday: 2600-2629 W. Francis Pl.; 2600-2615 W. Attrill; 2700-2715 W. Prindiville; 2820-2851 W. Belden and 2840-2877 W. Medill. Also during this time, Armitage Avenue between Campbell and Milwaukee and Fullerton Avenue between Sacramento and Milwaukee will also be closed to all traffic, resulting in the reroute of #73 Armitage and #74 Fullerton buses.
The track project includes replacing wooden rail ties, tie plates and other track materials on the Milwaukee elevated track structure between the Damen and Logan Square stops—a section of line that opened in 1895 and still sits on the original structure. This work will require five additional temporary, weekend-only closures of small sections of the Blue Line, tentatively scheduled through August. The next track closure, between Western and Logan Square, is scheduled to begin 10 p.m. Friday, May 30, and end at 4 a.m. Monday, June 2.
Announced in December 2013, Your New Blue is a $492 million project to provide faster, smoother commutes and improved stations along the Blue Line’s O’Hare branch between the Grand and O’Hare stations. Your New Blue is the largest, most comprehensive investment in the Blue Line since the O'Hare branch was extended to the airport from Jefferson Park in 1983-84. More information about the project is available at www.transitchicago.com/yournewblue.
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