Kennedy construction project final closures in effect until 5AM Monday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Kennedy Expressway construction project enters phase two this weekend. The outbound lanes of I-90/94 between Grand and Ogden are now closed until Monday 5 a.m. The reversible lanes will also be closed for the weekend.

TRAFFIC VIDEO: Live Kennedy traffic cam

TRAFFIC MAP: Check travel times, plan routes

MORE INFORMATION: Complete Kennedy closures, detours, dates

This is the final part of the Kennedy Expressway construction project to demolish the Ontario Street Bridge and is expected to have more impact on traffic than part 1, which was last weekend.

"This particular weekend is going to be pretty different than last weekend in terms of the diversion that we have set up. Much more involved, much more complicated. It's going to involve a complete U-turn at the corner of Ontario and Orleans," Jae Miller, IDOT spokesperson, said.

Drivers headed toward Chicago's Loop from the city's South Side will have to exit at Ohio Street and will be detoured down Orleans. The Ontario Street feeder ramp to the Kennedy is also closed, as is the entrance ramp from Jackson to Randolph Street.

"We want people to continue to listen. If you do not have to be on the Kennedy, do not be on the Kennedy," said Tony Quigley, IDOT engineer.

And anyone thinking maybe the closures wouldn't be so bad was in for a rude awakening Saturday.

"We were coming up to it and I thought, 'Shoot, I knew it was going to close but didn't remember when,'" said Katie Johnson.

As phase two of the demolition continues, so do the headaches for those trying to get out of downtown.

Unlike last weekend, when the Kennedy's inbound lanes were closed, this weekend's Grand to Ogden outbound closures are longer and much more complicated. Traffic heading north from the Dan Ryan Expressway has been reduced to two lanes and diverted to the Ohio Street feeder ramp, it then makes a U-turn back onto the Ontario Street feeder ramp.

"It's been really frustrating," Johnson said. "My mother-in-law is from out of town and we were trying with the GPS to find an alternate route and it's been a little confusing."

There is also traffic trouble elsewhere in the city. At the intersection of Grand, Halsted and Milwaukee, Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) workers directed drivers to the alternate routes. The ramp from the inbound Eisenhower Expressway to the outbound Kennedy is also closed, as is the westbound Congress Parkway entrance to the outbound Kennedy.

IDOT officials expect the Kennedy closures to be in place until 5 a.m. Monday. Last weekend, contractors finished the project early. IDOT says they did not get extra money for that, but the contractors will pay if lanes do not open by 5 a.m. Monday.

"The department did not put any incentives, just disincentives. It's $4,000 every 15 minutes for a lane that is closed on the expressway," Quigley said.

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.

CTA, Metra adds service for weekend

Officials are encouraging drivers to stay off the Kennedy if possible by finding alternative routes or taking public transportation. CTA and Metra both plan to step up service to accommodate more passengers trying to get into the city.

This weekend is a busy one with a lot of festivals, including Pridefest in Lakeview and the Gold Coast Art Fair.