Lake Shore Drive repaving project begins August 26, drivers urged to take detours
Sun-Times file
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that it plans to start an accelerated project on August 26, weather permitting, to resurface N. Lake Shore Drive from Monroe St. to Grand Ave. and to make repairs to the bridge that carries Lake Shore Drive over LaSalle Drive.
The accelerated schedule will require lane closures that will reduce Lake Shore Drive to two lanes in each direction from South of Monroe to LaSalle Drive (near North Avenue) for the duration of the project in order to complete the work by October 6, ahead of the Chicago Marathon. CDOT is advising motorists to take alternate routes to avoid delays, especially during peak travel times.
The lane closures will start to be put in place Sunday after 6 p.m., following the Chicago Triathlon.
During the first phase, the two inner lanes of both north and southbound LSD will be closed so that crews can repair and resurface the roadway and ramps at Randolph St., Illinois St. and Lower Wacker Drive. Once that work is complete, the outer lanes will be closed so the roadway and left side entrance and exit ramps can be repaired and repaved.
Advance work for the LSD resurfacing project has been ongoing this week on sections of Lower LSD over the Chicago River with work on the underside of the elevated portions of LSD. Work on the northbound entrance ramps to LSD at Randolph and Illinois will be staged to assure that one ramp is open at all times. Resurfacing work on the upper level will also require intermittent closures on the lower level.
Advance work at LSD and LaSalle Drive started August 21 and has required the closure of all but one lane in each direction on LaSalle Drive under LSD. This configuration will remain in place until past October 6.
CDOT is carrying out the work on an accelerated schedule with around the clock lane closures and crews working double shifts in order to complete the repairs as quickly and safely as possible, with a minimum amount of inconvenience for drivers.
Once the mainline resurfacing is complete, motorists can expect periodic partial lane closures on LSD in both directions for pavement striping and punch list work on both projects. This work will take place during off peak times, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and overnight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., weather permitting.
Detour routes:
The detour for the northbound on-ramp at Randolph will be via northbound Lower Lake Shore Drive to the on-ramp to LSD just south of Illinois.
The detour route for the southbound entrance ramps to LSD will be southbound Columbus Drive to eastbound Monroe to southbound LSD.
The second stage in which the outside lanes and ramps will be closed is anticipated to occur in mid-September. A traffic alert will be issued ahead of the stage change.