For a complete list of daily street closures in Chicago visit this link.

4/1/10: Congress, Wacker and Eisenhower Construction
On April 1, 2010 the City of Chicago and State of Illinois departments of Transportation (CDOT and IDOT) began construction projects on Congress Parkway from Michigan to Wells, the Congress Parkway Bridge, the North-South portion of Wacker Drive and the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) from the Loop to Thorndale.

Visit www.wackerdrive.org for information on the Congress Parkway Improvement and Wacker Drive Reconstruction projects. For information on the Congress Parkway Bridge Rehabilitation and I-290 Resurfacing projects, go to www.dot.il.gov/projects.html and see tabs under Dist. 1 projects. You may also call the IDOT daytime field office for this project at 312-939-1100.

These projects will bring many improvements to these areas. They will increase safety, improve traffic flow and make your drive, walk or bike ride much smoother. The North-South portion of Wacker will be transformed and made like the recently reconstructed East-West portion. The Congress Parkway Improvement Project will turn that corridor into a beautiful gateway to the City.

While we are excited that these projects are taking place, I understand that they will have a large impact on traffic flow. Representatives from CDOT and IDOT are working closely with my office to respond to resident and business owner concerns and questions. These Departments will be on hand for the length of the project to make adjustments to detour and alternate routes, traffic management personnel and to other aspects of the project as needed and possible. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Tim Stevens at my office, 312-263-9273 or via e-mail at Timothy.Stevens@cityofchicago.org.

3/11/10: Rockwell Gardens Sewer Project

Starting this month the Department of Water Management will be commencing with sewer repairs in the area bounded by Madison, Campbell, Van Buren and Rockwell. Construction will be completed by May and street closures are expected during that time frame.

3/11/10: Sewer Lining on Prairie

Starting this week the Department of Water Management will be starting a sewer lining project on Prairie between 25th and 26th Streets to be completed by the end of March. There will be parking restrictions during this time and lane closures. Work will be done between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day.

1/22/10: Wacker Drive and Congress Parkway Detour Route Construction

In advance of the upcoming reconstructions and resurfacings on Congress Parkway, Wacker Drive and the Eisenhower Expressway utility work will be taking place on Van Buren, Harrison, Wells and Franklin. These streets will serve as detour routes during the work on Congress, Wacker and the Ike and are therefore being made ready to act in that capacity.

1/21/10: Southbound Lower Wacker Closures

Beginning the 21st of this month and continuing for approximately 4-6 the Southbound lanes of Lower Wacker drive will be closed between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for utility work in advance of the upcoming Wacker Drive reconstruction and resurfacing.  Please note the ramps at Harrison and Franklin will also be closed.

1/14/10: Canal and Jackson street closures

The Department of Transportation has notified my office of street closures on Canal and Jackson near the intersection of those two streets. The full details are as follows:

Beginning Thursday, January 14, after the evening rush, the Eastern half of the Canal and Jackson intersection will be closed.

Two northbound lanes will remain open on the West side of Canal, as well as two turning lanes from Jackson (Eastbound to Northbound).

Both the South crosswalk of Canal Street and the East crosswalk of Jackson will be closed for this two-month period. Northbound pedestrians will be directed to the west sidewalk of Canal Street at Van Buren. This configuration will be in place for two months.

NOTE: for the first weekend of the new configuration, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, January 15 through 5 a.m. Monday, January 18, Canal Street, from the North curb of Van Buren to the South curb of Jackson will be completely closed to all Northbound vehicular traffic.

Northbound Canal traffic will be detoured from Van Buren to Jefferson, back to Jackson.

This full closure is to allow the demolition and removal of the Westernmost end of the viaduct without further reducing the left-turn movement from Jackson to Canal.

12/8/09: Northbound Lower Wacker nighttime closures

As a result of underground utility work in advance of the 2009-2010 North-South Lower Wacker Drive reconstruction the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) advises of the following:

Starting Tuesday, December 8th for approximately three (3) weeks between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the Northbound lanes of Lower Wacker Drive from Harrison Street to Post Place and the Northbound entrance ramps at Congress Parkway, Adams, Monroe and Madison will all be closed.

12/1/09: Notice from the Department of Streets and Sanitation on the City of Chicago Overnight Winter parking ban

Winter Overnight Parking Ban Returns for Key Arterial Streets:

One of the surest signs of Winter in Chicago is the return of our annual snow-related parking restrictions.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at 3:00 AM, is the time and date that Chicago reactivates its Winter Overnight Parking restrictions for a number of Chicago’s most critical arterial streets.

Motorists should also pay attention to the 2-inch snow restrictions that are technically in effect all year round but realistically are only a factor during the winter months.

The Winter overnight parking ban resumes for approximately 107 miles of city streets from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. between December 1st and April 1st regardless of snow.

Enforcement begins Tuesday, December 1st at 3 a.m.

Signs for this seasonal restriction are permanently posted. Ignoring them can cost the violator a $150 towing fee (minimum), a $50 ticket and a daily storage fee of $10 that will increase over time. If you regularly park on one of these designated streets during non-winter months, it’s a good idea to secure a safe and legal parking spot until the restrictions expire on April 1st.

Visit the Department of Streets and Sanitation website for a map of the streets effected by the ban.