Kennedy Construction Overview: Closures in place 2 weekends in June

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Get ready for major construction on the Kennedy Expressway just north of downtown at the Ontario Street Bridge in June.

Demolition of the westbound Ontario Street Bridge to eastbound I-90/94 over I-90/94, begins Friday, June 13, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Ontario Bridge feeds traffic onto both sides of the Kennedy Expressway. Built in 1959, it is being replaced with a modern bridge.

Originally slated to take place over three weekends, the large-scale demolition is now taking course over two separate weekends in June. During the first weekend, the eastbound Kennedy will close. During the second weekend, the westbound Kennedy will close. Officials say there will be additional traffic control on both I-90/94 and on the surface streets. More IDOT Minutemen will also out during the closures.

Officials recommend avoiding the Kennedy if possible during these times, by taking I-294 or I-355 around the city, or by taking Lake Shore Drive into or out of the city. Additional entrances to the Kennedy will be closed during the two weekends of construction to keep traffic from entering the expressway near the diversions.

CLOSURES JUNE 13-15TH

The weekend of June 13-15th from 10:00 pm Friday to 5:00 am Monday crews will have the following closures in place:

The inbound Kennedy expressway from Chicago to Grand Ave. and the reversible lanes

One lane on the outbound Kennedy expressway from Grand to Ogden

The WB Ontario feeder ramp to the inbound Kennedy

The Augusta, Division and Jackson entrance ramps to the Kennedy will be closed

DETOURS

Traffic on the inbound Kennedy will narrow from 5 lanes to 2 near Diversey. The 2 lanes will be forced off at Ohio and onto a turn-around to re-enter the inbound Kennedy.

Best to avoid the inbound Kennedy by using the Tri-State or I-355 around the city if you don't need to go directly downtown.

Or use the inbound Eisenhower, Stevenson or southbound Lake Shore Dr. into the city instead of the Kennedy.

If you're going to any of the city festivals, public transportation is HIGHLY recommended!

CLOSURES JUNE 20-22ND

The weekend of June 20-22nd, traffic on the outbound Kennedy will be closed from Grand to Ogden Avenues and the reversible lanes

The ramps from the inbound and outbound Kennedy to the Ohio exit will be closed

The westbound Ontario entrance ramps to both the inbound and outbound Kennedy will be closed

The westbound Congress entrance to the outbound Kennedy will be closed

The ramp from the inbound Eisenhower to the outbound Kennedy will be closed

The Jackson, Adams, Madison and Randolph entrance ramps to the Kennedy will be closed

DETOURS

Traffic on the outbound Kennedy will be forced off at Ohio and onto a turn-around to re-enter the outbound Kennedy

Long delays are expected on the inbound Ryan (which feeds into the outbound Kennedy), so again, use the Tri-State or I-355 tollways around the downtown area if you don't need to go directly downtown.

Heading into the city, avoid the inbound Dan Ryan and use the Stevenson or Lake Shore Drive.

Public transportation is HIGHLY recommended.

The $18 million project aims to overhaul the entrances to the Kennedy from the westbound Ontario Street entrance, especially the ramp leading onto the eastbound Kennedy.

LINKS

IDOT Project Page - http://www.dot.il.gov/KennedyatOhio/index.html

ABC7 Chicago Traffic Page- set alerts, check travel times, plan routes: http://abc7chicago.com/traffic/