Kennedy Expressway commuters brace for major delays

It’s a sad week for 275,000 regular commuters who use the Kennedy Expressway. Drivers already live with the extreme traffic on the Kennedy, and now, the busiest part of the roadway between the Eden’s Expressway and Ohio Street is under construction for years to come.

The culprit is the Kennedy Bridge Project, which is projected to cost $150 million. The initial construction zone was set up Monday. Commuters felt the burn on Tuesday, waking up to two inbound left lanes closed between the Eden’s Junction and Ohio Street.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the construction is expected to last through 2025. IDOT officials maintain that the construction will “increase safety, reduce maintenance costs, and improve traffic flow.” However, drivers will see a sizable increase in traffic and travel times for a few years as IDOT warns, “Major delays are anticipated,” and encourages using alternate routes or public transportation.

The construction zone will evolve over the course of this week as crews continue to set up the operation during the overnight hours between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. to set up barriers between the Eden’s all the way to Ohio St. This week kicks off stage one of three including pavement repair, rehab express lanes, signs, lighting, and bridges.

Metra announced this week that it was revising its schedule on the UP Northwest Line beginning April 3 to add 12 trains to its weekday service lineup.

The best alternate route? Stay home and work remotely.