Closures will reduce Lake Shore Drive to two lanes in each direction from South Monroe to LaSalle Drive.
ABC7 DRONE CAM: Get a birds-eye view of the LSD repaving project
ABC7 Drone Cam shows birds-eye view of LSD construction
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The Chicago Department of Transportation started the project Sunday. Crews will resurface North Lake Shore Drive from Monroe to Grand Avenue and make repairs to the bridge that carries Lake Shore Drive over to LaSalle Drive.
There are also ramp closures to contend with. The Randolph entrance ramps to both north and southbound Lake Shore Drive will be closed for the next couple of weeks as well as the Lower Wacker Drive entrance to the southbound Lake Shore Drive.
The city plans to have all of this work complete by October 6, just in time for the Chicago Marathon.
It's won't be easy for commuters for the next few weeks, but city officials said crews will be working double shifts so they can get this done as early as possible.
Back-ups started during the Moday morning rush when northbound traffic was backed up from before 31st Street, and southbound traffic was stacked up from Hollywood most of the way to North Avenue.
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Resurfacing project creates traffic headaches on Lake Shore Drive
"We want to encourage people as much as possible to use alternate routes," said CDOT Deputy Commissioner and Chief Engineer Dan Burke. "Use public transportation if it's an option. If you have to drive, please stay off the drive is possible. Use (I-90/94) or other routes and if possible consider biking. The weather is beautiful. It's a viable option for you."
The work will be done in phases. You may see some inner lanes closed for part of this and then some outer lanes.
CDOT said it's very important to get this work done now as the drive is in poor condition and they want it done before winter comes.
Regardless, drivers were frustrated on Monday.
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"It was really bad!" said motorist Francisco Estrada. "It took me 45 minutes to get through one mile."
"Considering I'm getting off now, it's wonderful!" said motorist Adonya Collins. "I can say it's not too bad. I was expecting worse."
"Terrible, terrible," said motorist Herbert Winter. "It took about 10 extra minutes for the last mile."