LINCOLN PARK — A bus crash and a fire in Lincoln Park led to delays on the CTA and traffic backups on Lake Shore Drive Tuesday morning. Coupled with frigid temperatures, Chicagoans were feeling pretty cranky.
The bus fire started about 5 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive between North and Chicago Avenues, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
No injuries were reported, but the cleanup lasted into the morning rush hour, leading to double-digit travel times and lane closures on southbound Lake Shore Drive.
North Siders looking to avoid the Drive didn't have it any easier. A fire at the former Mulligan Elementary School, 1855 N. Sheffield, led to major delays on the CTA.
The school's location near the Armitage Brown and Purple Line CTA station caused the transportation agency to suspend service, with Purple Line trains stopping at Howard, and Brown Line trains running only between Kimball and Fullerton, and in the Loop.
WBBM traffic reporter Bart Shore says it was one of the worst commutes:
That led to packed Red Line trains. The CTA was working to restore service on the Brown and Purple lines as of 8:30 a.m.
A crash on the inbound Kennedy Expy. later Tuesday morning further complicated many Chicagoan's commutes, according to traffic reports.
Some of those inconvenienced wryly noted on social media the flood of commute-slowing events in Chicago.
"Jeez It's like #Chicago said 'I just can't' today. Bus fire on #LSD, #MDW plane crash, #CTA EL issue, #Chiberia, etc" tweeted @Liztastic65.
"The greatest efficiency of the #cta is that they schedule all their fires in one fell swoop," tweeted @marnieshure.
But @JaredSHopkins found a silver lining: "The #LSD traffic had one perk: I am completely caught up on #serialpodcast."
