Traffic is crawling, sidewalks are thinning out, and tempers along Foster Avenue in Jefferson Park are wearing down as a $25.2 million Illinois Department of Transportation bridge rebuild drags on with what locals say looks like sluggish progress. The replacement of the span over the Kennedy Expressway began in November 2024 and is now slated, according to a construction sign and state officials, to wrap up on December 31, 2026. In the meantime, detours and lane restrictions are steering cars away from storefronts, leaving merchants complaining of quieter sidewalks and longer, more convoluted trips for regular customers.
Business owners: crews are sporadic, impact is real
As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, shopkeepers and restaurateurs along Foster and nearby Elston and Northwest Highway say the construction zone has turned everyday errands into a test of endurance. Angelo Palivos told the station he has “seen people working on occasion, not daily or weekly,” while Bill Habetler said what used to be a five‑minute drive can now stretch into a half hour. Several owners estimated that their sales are down about 30 percent since the work kicked off. According to FOX 32, updated signs and agency communications now show the project pushed to a year‑end 2026 finish.
What IDOT is building and when
In an October 2024 news release, the Illinois Department of Transportation spelled out the job: replace the 66‑year‑old Foster Avenue bridge over the Kennedy, install LED lighting, modernize traffic signals, construct ADA‑compliant sidewalk ramps, and upgrade drainage. The $25.2 million contract requires staged closures and detours to keep traffic and transit moving while the work proceeds. The agency initially projected a 2026 completion when the project started and warned drivers to expect overnight lane activity on the Kennedy and detours to Nagle, Bryn Mawr, Milwaukee, and Central avenues. IDOT says complex work over active traffic and rail has contributed to shifts in the schedule.
Why is it taking longer
According to FOX 32 Chicago, state officials point to unforeseen utility conflicts and the extra coordination required with the CTA and Union Pacific when crews work over live rail lines as key reasons for delays. Those constraints, along with the fact that much of the heavy lifting happens under the bridge deck or in tight overnight windows, mean neighbors might not see the kind of dramatic crane moves that usually signal rapid progress. IDOT has emphasized that the added coordination is meant to protect transit operations and keep workers safe while major components are installed.
Part of a wider bridge backlog
The Foster Avenue headache is one piece of a broader bridge problem across the city that has been snarling commutes and punishing local businesses. The Chicago Sun‑Times recently reported that a high share of Chicago bridges are in poor condition and noted that other east‑west spans have faced lengthy closures, pushing traffic deeper into neighborhood streets and stacking up the pain for nearby shops and restaurants. Lawmakers and community leaders have urged transportation agencies to stagger major projects and communicate better so residents are not hit with overlapping closures and cascading congestion.
What’s next for merchants
State contracting records from the Illinois Department of Transportation list IHC Construction among the firms tied to the Foster Avenue job, with work continuing in stages as crews finish the heaviest structural pieces. Merchants say they want clearer, more frequent updates on when visible lanes and ramps will reopen and what, if any, financial relief or mitigation the state might offer to address prolonged business losses. For now, shop owners are bracing for several more months of thin foot traffic and awkward detours as the structural work moves ahead and the neighborhood slowly adjusts to the new span.
