CTA Blue Line Work To Close California, Damen Stations
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A half-billion dollar CTA renovation project on the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line will mean two stations will close for several weeks this fall. The California stop will be closed for six weeks starting next month; and the Damen stop will be closed for nine weeks, starting in October.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports the Blue Line is the CTA's second-busiest rail line, and California and Damen are two of its busiest stations.
The California station is more than 115 years old, and is slated to close for six weeks starting in early September. When that work is done, the CTA will close the Damen stop for nine weeks, beginning in late October, and continuing through the week of Christmas.
Some of the work on both stations will be structural, and will be hard to notice, but the renovated stations should be more attractive.
The #56/Milwaukee bus will provide alternate service for riders who use the two stations.
"As long as one of them is running for me, and I get to work on time, that's all that matters," CTA rider Floyd Tillis said.
The Western station on the O'Hare branch of the Blue Line also is slated for renovation, but it will stay open while the work is done, since the overhaul there won't be as extensive.