Chicago's Kennedy Expressway construction delayed again. Here's when lanes should reopen.
CHICAGO (CBS) — It's no secret that drivers are frustrated that the reversible lanes on the Kennedy Expressway are still closed, and on Tuesday the Illinois Department of Transportation announced another delay to the project's scheduled end.
The reversible lanes are now set to reopen the week of Jan. 13, a significant delay from the original deadline of Oct. 31. Earlier, the agency projected the project to reach its completion by the end of fall, or later this week.
IDOT said crews are still testing new technology and the last step of testing will begin on Jan. 2.
A billboard along the Kennedy Expressway is using the holiday season to seemingly troll the Illinois construction project that has yet to be completed.
In response to the delay, an Old National Bank billboard now carries a message: "How does Santa deliver presents on time? He avoids the Kennedy!" The billboard then flips the display to read, "Come on, express lanes - open up!"
In September, the state transportation department tweeted a photo of the signs saying "The finish line is in sight," and again touted a project completion timeline to fall within fall.
The Kennedy Expressway project is a three-phase job, with the final chapter — work on the outbound lanes — beginning in the spring of 2025. IDOT officials said the work should take just about as long as the current portion, because the reversals have two lanes, and the outbounds have four.
For more information on the Kennedy Expressway construction project, visit IDOT.Illinois.gov.
