Motorists navigating the tangles of the Kennedy Expressway can expect to breathe easier as the outbound lanes north of Addison Street are slated to fully reopen in time for Friday's early commute. According to a report from ABC7 Chicago, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has confirmed that all lanes will be accessible by 5 a.m. on Friday, following a period of reduced traffic to one lane starting at 11 p.m. this Thursday.
Drivers should be prepared to adapt quickly, as the expressway is set to temporarily narrow down starting Thursday night, per CBS Chicago. The overnight work will lead to intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m., with a goal to ensure everything is ready to once again fully serve Chicagoans by the morning rush.
In addition to lane reopenings, several ramps will also become available. "The following ramps also will reopen by 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29: Outbound Kennedy to Kimball Avenue, Addison Street to outbound Kennedy, Outbound Kennedy to Pulaski Road/Irving Park Road (Illinois 19)," detailed ABC7 Chicago in their coverage. However, certain ramp closures are expected next Tuesday, such as the OB Kennedy to Diversey Avenue and the Fullerton Avenue slip ramp to Western Avenue, to accommodate the ongoing construction.
This concerted effort is part of the Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which aims to restore and rejuvenate a key arterial vein of the Windy City's transport system. IDOT promises that these operations are on schedule to be fully completed by Thanksgiving. According to CBS Chicago, the work is set to slowly remove the work zone between Addison Street and Pulaski Road, a necessary step to ultimately finish up and return to normal operations.
