Watch for traffic issues around Union Station

Metra riders can expect traffic angst around Union Station Friday with lane closures to allow for construction of a new transit center.

The transit center will be located south of Jackson between Canal and Clinton streets in Chicago. It will be sheltered from the elements and connect to Union Station.

Parking lanes will be eliminated temporarily on Jackson between Canal and Clinton Friday morning leaving two through lanes. A right turn from Jackson to southbound Canal will be removed permanently.

Northbound traffic on Canal between Van Buren and Jackson will temporarily decrease from three to two lanes.

The Union Station parking garage will remain open but the Jackson access will close.

Commuters are advised to plan for extra time getting in and out of the station.

The transit center will open in spring 2016 and is expected to serve 120,000 commuters. The transit center is part of Chicago's "Loop Link" project that creates designated lanes for buses, cars and bikes on Madison, Washington, Canal and Clinton streets. Bus lanes will be painted red, and riders will board from sheltered, raised platforms. Cars and trucks will get two designated lanes. Other features include screens keeping track of bus arrival times, seating at bus stops and traffic signal synchronization to move buses expeditiously through intersections. The plan is to speed transit users, cyclists and vehicles through key Loop streets, currently congested.

The routes affected by the project include buses that travel to and from Union Station, Ogilvie Transportation Center, Navy Pier, the United Center, the Water Tower and Millennium Park.