Renovations begin on Chicago's Red Line stations

Posted by IronPlanet on Sep 10, 2012 1:11:00 AM

Chi-town commuters may be finding other routes to and from work if they rely on the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red Line. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has already allocated $1 billion to renovate and repair a number of stations and stretches of track on this line, according to Crain's Chicago Business. The project is intended to repair major issues and update some of the older stations along this busy route.

Crews fired up their construction equipment on Monday, as the preliminary work for the project began. CDOT officials have indicated that the project could take until 2015 to complete, and this could cause traffic and pedestrian flow issues for at least a year, the Chicago Tribune reports. One of these large-scale projects is taking place at the Clark/Division station in the Near North Side neighborhood, which will be the site of major renovations and improvements.

Plans for the new station include the installation of three new escalators, two elevators and an additional entrance to the building. In addition to an 8,000-square-foot mezzanine for foot traffic, the construction project will also result in more room for two more trains than before. There have never been renovations on the 70-year-old building, so it is very much in need of work. However, this may cause some major traffic congestion, as the Tribune reports this station is the 16th busiest in all of Chicago. This portion of the Red Line project will cost an estimated $50.6 million, roughly half of the original projections.

The CDOT's renovation plans are not just for the stations, as the agency is also making efforts to improve the train tracks themselves. In order to create a safe work environment and allow construction crews to get their work done safely and quickly, the organization will be shutting service down on all points south of Roosevelt station in May 2013, the Chicago Journal reports. Since this will limit commuters' ability to reach certain areas of the city, there will be a free shuttle running between the Roosevelt and Cermak/Chinatown 'L' stations provided by the CTA. A number of bus routes, including the 62, 9 and 24, will be expanded and their services increased to accommodate the transplanted Red Line travelers.

The additional buses and shuttles on the road could potentially cause traffic issues, so the CTA plans to work together with the Chicago Police Department and emergency services to ensure public safety, the Journal indicates.

Topics: Construction, Industry Headlines