Track work along the O’Hare branch of the Blue Line resumes this weekend as part of CTA’s Your New Blue project. This weekend’s work will require the temporary suspension of train service between the Western and Logan Square stations beginning 10 p.m. Friday, May 30 until 4 a.m. Monday, June 2.
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. Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday, the following streets under CTA tracks will be closed: 2600-2615 W. Attrill; 2700-2721 W. St. George Ct.; 2209-2228 N. California; and 2800-2815 W. Lyndale St. The first street closure, for 2700-2715 W. Prindiville, begins at 7 a.m. Friday and will conclude at 4 a.m. Monday.
Also, due to the closure of California Avenue between Palmer and Milwaukee and Armitage Avenue between Campbell and Milwaukee -- #52 Kedzie/California and #73 Armitage buses will be detoured to adjacent streets.
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 four 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, June 6, and end at 4 a.m. Monday, June 9.
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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