Good news, commuters: Kennedy construction on inbound lanes wrapping up
After months of anticipation and crawling commutes, the big finale is finally coming. At least for the inbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway.
Illinois Department of Transportation crews are wrapping the first year of rehabbing the 63-year-old corridor. By Tuesday morning, it's expected all inbound lanes and ramps will reopen after a busy spring, summer and fall of construction.
Here's a look at the final traffic disruptions of 2023:
• Starting 8 p.m. Friday, the inbound Kennedy will slim to one lane between Keeler and Kimball avenues. Temporary ramp closures between both streets will also occur.
• Beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, the inbound Kennedy lanes and ramps will be fully reopened from Keeler Avenue heading south.
• Starting at 8 p.m. Monday, the inbound Kennedy will shrink to one lane from north of the Edens Expressway to Keeler. Ramps between Montrose and Keeler avenues will have intermittent closures as will ramps on the inbound Edens Expressway at Wilson and Elston avenues.
Effective 5 a.m. Tuesday, "inbound Kennedy and Edens expressways as well as lanes and ramps will be fully reopened and the reversible express lanes will resume normal operations," IDOT planners said.
IDOT kicked off the three-year, $150 million project in March.
A total of 36 bridges will be rehabbed between the Edens Expressway and Ohio Street, along with pavement patching as needed.
In addition, the gates that open and close the reversible lanes will be updated, and Hubbard's Cave will get a fresh coat of paint and new LEDs.
Next year, IDOT will close the reversible lanes to repair the bridge decks and the Reversible Lane Access Control system. Work will continue on Hubbard's Cave.
In 2025, construction will shift to the outbound Kennedy.