Kennedy express lanes reopening delayed until January, IDOT says
CHICAGO - Chicago area drivers will have to wait a little bit longer for the reopening of the Kennedy Expressway express lanes.
The Illinois Department of Transportation held a press conference on Tuesday where officials revealed the reversible lanes won’t reopen until the week of Jan. 13. Originally, they were supposed to reopen by the end of this year as part of the second phase of the Kennedy rehabilitation project.
"The testing is set to begin on January 2," said IDOT Bureau Chief of Construction Jon Schumacher, "It will definitely be the week of January 13. It might even be January 13. But at this time, we don't have an official date."
The initial reopening date was Halloween. When that date wasn’t hit, IDOT reported the second phase would be completed in "late fall."
IDOT said the delay is due to the software integration of the Reversible Lane Access Control or REVLAC System being "more complex" than anticipated.
"As we approach the finish line on the most complex piece of the Kennedy project, we appreciate your continued patience," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman in a statement. "The improvements are highly technical and require time and effort behind the scenes, but they will result in a much safer and reliable system for the millions of people who rely on the Kennedy."
Officials stressed that work is happening behind the scenes.
Project background
The express lanes that stretch from the Edens Junction to Ohio Street were closed in March for construction. IDOT said it planned to test the new reversible gate system on the Kennedy Expressway starting on Jan. 2, weather permitting.
The Reversible Lane Access Control system (REVLAC) controls the gates and whether traffic flows inbound or outbound.
"A lot of the swing gates and restraining gates are going to look similar to what was out there before, but with the addition of the close circuit TV cameras and additional communication capabilities of the system that will be able to be remotely controlled and opened from our communications center in Schaumburg," said Schumacher.
The REVLAC upgrade also involves installing 120 gates, installing local and remote controls, replacing cameras and more for 7.5 miles of road. Crews have also been rehabilitating the bridges and pavement in the two express lanes in the center of the Kennedy.
The last time the reversible lanes were upgraded was in 1996, more than 27 years ago.
The rehabilitation project also included repaving the roads, bridgework, and new overhead signs on the Kennedy. IDOT said they are still on track with the $150 million budget.
This year’s work is phase two of three of the Kennedy Expressway construction. In Spring 2025, work will shift to the outbound lanes.