Commuter Alert: Major CTA Changes For Wells Street Bridge Work
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A big commuter headache returned Friday night, with the temporary closure of the Wells Street bridge.
Wells Street Bridge Shutdown
For weeks, construction crews have been working on a floating platform in the Chicago River, building as much of the new bridge span as possible before they close the El tracks along the bridge to install the new truss.
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The CTA will suspend all train traffic over the bridge for nine days, impacting both the Brown and Purple lines, which carry some 38,000 passengers over the bridge every weekday.
"It will require significant service impacts to our customers both this weekend, next weekend and the day commute next week," said CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase.
Some commuters are taking it all in stride.
CTA commuter Scott Herbst said: "Nine days, we'll live. It's a 90-year-old bridge. It needs some work. I mean, what are they going to do, ride it until the bridge collapses?"
The first half of the bridge was replaced last March and commuters remember that disruption.
"It sucked," said CTA commuter Heather Sheets. "It doesn't keep to the schedule and they tell you it's coming and it's not coming. I work in that building and there's no other way to get down here, unless you drive."
The CTA will once again offer free shuttle service into the Loop along with additional Red Line service.
