The Lake Street Bridge, a key thoroughfare over the South Branch of the Chicago River, is set for a major rehabilitation project that will commence on October 6 and last until January 2028, as reported by NBC Chicago. The closure will block both vehicular and pedestrian access, rerouting traffic to modernize the 109-year-old structure.
During the closure of the bridge, which spans from Canal Street to Wacker Drive, Green and Pink lines of the Chicago Transit Authority are slated to continue operation, barring two planned shutdowns in the fall of 2026 and the spring of 2027, as mentioned in the same report by NBC Chicago. Drivers intending to journey east on Lake Street will need to adapt to a detour stretching across Desplaines Street, Washington Street, and Franklin Street to reconnect with Lake Street.
According to a post by ABC 7 Chicago, the comprehensive rehabilitation of the bridge will encompass the replacement of the bridge's deck, substructures, and CTA tracks. The bridge's houses, along with its mechanical and electrical systems, are also set for a revamp.
Originally planned for a 2024 start, the pending project has been pushed back, illustrating yet another pivot in a city familiar with the ebbs and flows of infrastructural upkeep. Walking paths will be redirected, funneling pedestrians through Canal Street to Wacker Drive and then onto Randolph Street, ABC 7 Chicago notes. Meanwhile, the State Street Bridge, which has been under emergency repairs since April, is expected to welcome commuters back in November.
