Kennedy Expressway Work Moved Up Thanks To Warmer Spring

CHICAGO, IL — Work on the Kennedy Expressway is starting early thanks to the warmer-than-anticipated spring weather in Chicago, officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation said Friday.

If weather permits, work on the stretch between Interstate 94 and Ohio Street will resume March 11. Advanced work is required and expected to begin March 4 with overnight closures of the reversible express lanes planned between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

"While we understand construction can be inconvenient, we are taking advantage of the warm weather to start early," IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a statement. "The end result will be safer, more resilient infrastructure for the region long after the cones and barricades are removed."

The second phase of the $150 million project will take place over three consecutive construction seasons. Improvements on the inbound Kennedy lanes were completed in 2023, while this year, construction will focus on the reversible express lanes, which will close starting March 11 until late fall.

During the week of March 11, construction will require four consecutive nights of lane and ramp closures in both directions of the Kennedy and Edens expressways to establish the work zone for the coming season. Closures will reopen by 5 a.m. each morning.

Drivers should expect "significant delays" as a result of the road work. To avoid the increased drive times, people should plan to travel during non-peak hours or use public transit if possible.

The express lanes are expected to be completed in the fall, and efforts on outbound Kennedy lanes should be finished by 2025, officials said.