City Easing Congestion On Wacker Drive

CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS) -- The city is making changes to ease the congestion that has resulted from the Wacker Drive reconstruction project.

Traffic lights are being re-timed to keep cars from bunching up as much, particularly along Lake Street going east. A free-flow left turn lane is also being established on Lake Street to prevent backups.

LISTEN: WBBM 780's David Roe Reports.

There will also be no parking on sections of Lake, Jefferson and Canal streets, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

Also, more bus stops are being relocated, and traffic control aides will be reassigned, according to a release from the city.

Additionally, the CDOT is suggesting motorists avoid the Washington exit on the Kennedy Expressway at rush hours between 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Lake Shore Drive and east-west Upper Wacker Drive are good alternatives with light traffic, the release said.

From now until the middle of the summer, North Wacker Drive between Lake and Madison streets will be closed. It is the first of several closures planned for the north-south stretch of Wacker Drive.

Small sections of Washington and Randolph streets are also closed, between Canal and Wells streets.

The project is part of the city's Revive Wacker Drive overhaul. Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Bobby Ware last week said the project would result in "a more efficient, safer roadway."

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

In:
• Wacker Drive
• David Roe
• Lake Street