Chicago, federal officials announce CTA bypass completion, start of work between Belmont, Addison
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago and federal officials gathered on a snowy Monday morning in Lakeview to announce the completion of the CTA Red-Purple Bypass and the start of work to reconstruct 100-year-old tracks north of the Belmont station.
The Red-Purple Bypass, which began service in November 2021, is the first major improvement to be delivered to CTA customers as part of the historic $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One project. The largest reconstruction project in CTA's history, RPM is modernizing and replacing 100-year-old rail structures and stations to improve rail service reliability, comfort and convenience for CTA customers, officials said.
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"The reconstruction of the Red Line in our transportation and trail system has been long overdue," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
The new bypass is the first new, permanent mainline track to be added to CTA since the Orange Line opened in 1993.
SEE MORE: CTA Red-Purple Bypass in service to ease congestion on Red, Purple, Brown Line trains
The bypass eliminates a 115-year-old rail junction that had become a chokepoint for service across the CTA rail system and will allow CTA to add rail service during busy travel periods and reduce overcrowding and delays, according to officials.
"Our customers will see a noticeable improvement in CTA service, with increased access to trains, shorter commute times and less crowding on trains and station platforms," CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. said.
The North Belmont Red-Purple Reconstruction project will remove a curvature in the tracks between the Belmont and Addison stations, allowing CTA to improve its service throughout the transit system, officials said.
Beginning February 2022, CTA will demolish, rebuild and realign the 100-year-old Red and Purple Line tracks between the Belmont station and West Cornelia Avenue. The work is expected to continue through 2025.
