7 on the Streets: Lower Wacker Drive lane closures

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Every Thursday this month, ABC7's Roz Varon is getting answers to your traffic troubles.

This week's question is from Facebook fan Sue Naylor Clark:

"Why has one lane of Lower Wacker Drive been closed for so long and when will it re-open? It snarls traffic badly, and I've seen many near-crashes when drivers round a curve!"

Lanes closed on westbound Lower Wacker Drive two years ago when construction started on Chicago's Riverwalk.

Last weekend, part of the Riverwalk opened from State to LaSalle, featuring a dock for boaters, a cove for kayakers and new restaurants.

Also this summer, work begins on the final three blocks of the Riverwalk from LaSalle to Lake Street.

"The construction of the last phase of The Riverwalk will be complete by the end of 2016, so there will be a need for intermittent lane closures throughout that period of construction," said Rebekah Scheinfeld, CDOT commissioner.

The lane closure on Lower Wacker is particularly frustrating because you can't see any work being done - there is no work being done on Lower Wacker, but crews need this space to build the Riverwalk on the other side.

"We're adding 20 feet of space to build out the Riverwalk, but we need space for staging equipment and materials for this heavy construction project, so that's why the lane closures are necessary," Scheinfeld said.

The city is working to cut down the impact on traffic.

During weekdays, lanes will not be closed during the afternoon rush period, but they will be closed during the days, overnights and weekends until October of next year.