CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Transportation is warning commuters heading into the Loop to allow extra time as they close several lanes along Washington Street as part of the Loop Link transit project.
The construction is set to begin Wednesday and will leave Washington Street with only two lanes from Wacker Drive to Clark Street. Lane closures on Madison Street from Michigan Avenue to Wacker Drive will remain in effect, the city said in a press release.
The configuration will eliminate parking along Washington Street. Curbside loading zones will be moved to north and south streets including Franklin, Wells and LaSalle. Access to alleys and parking lots will not be disturbed.
Construction will also eliminate the right turn from Washington Street to LaSalle Street. It will not be restored after construction ends.
No detours are planned, but city officials will be watching traffic in real time to make adjustments, the city said.
The Loop Link project is scheduled to be done by the end of the year and will modernize traffic in the Loop, making bus travel more efficient, the city said. The project will separate bus, bike and regular traffic by installing bus-only lanes along Madison, Washington, Canal and Clinton from Union Station to Millennium Park.
Bike lanes will be created eastbound on Washington Street, westbound on Randolph Street and in both directions on Clinton Street, the city said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
