IDOT announces reopening of Kennedy Expressway lanes

CHICAGO (WGN) — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today that all Kennedy Expressway lanes north of Addison Street will be reopening over the next week.

IDOT officials said reducing the overall length of the work zone by 2 miles represents the latest milestone in the ongoing expressway rehabilitation from Ohio Street to the Edens Expressway junction. With the reopening of the north end of the project, 70% of the work scheduled for this construction season will be complete.

To facilitate the lanes reopening, IDOT officials said several overnight ramp and lane closures are scheduled to take place over the next week, starting Thursday evening, Aug. 21:

• Starting at 11 p.m. Thursday, weather permitting, the outbound Kennedy will be gradually reduced to one lane from Addison Street to the Edens junction, with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m.

By 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, any lanes and ramps temporarily closed overnight will reopen and the current split lane configuration near Kostner Avenue will be removed. All lanes will be fully reopened from north of Pulaski Road to the Edens junction.

The following week will focus on removing the work zone north of Addison Street to Pulaski Road.

To accommodate ongoing bridge rehabilitation and ramp repairs in between Addison and Pulaski, the following ramps are scheduled to close Tuesday, Aug. 26:

• Outbound Kennedy to Diversey Avenue, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks.
• Fullerton Avenue slip ramp to Western Avenue. It is anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks.  (The Fullerton Avenue entrance portion to the outbound Kennedy is currently closed).

• Starting at 11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, weather permitting, the outbound Kennedy will be gradually reduced to one lane from south of Kimball Avenue to the Edens junction with intermittent ramp closures beginning at 9 p.m. At 1 a.m., the express lanes will close. By 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, any lanes and ramps temporarily closed overnight will reopen. Additionally, construction barricades will be removed and all lanes fully reopened from Addison Street to Pulaski Road.

The following ramps also will reopen by 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29:

• Outbound Kennedy to Kimball Avenue.
• Addison Street to outbound Kennedy.
• Outbound Kennedy to Pulaski Road/Irving Park Road (Illinois 19).

IDOT officials wanted to remind the public they should expect significant delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, follow any detours and remain alert for workers and equipment.

All scheduled work is subject to change due to multiple factors, including inclement weather. In that event, schedules will be updated and shared with the public.

The reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction. The reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will remain closed.

Current ramp closures:

• Outbound Kennedy to Augusta Boulevard and Milwaukee Avenue, anticipated to reopen in mid-October.
• North Avenue (I-64) to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen early September.
• Outbound Kennedy to Armitage Avenue, anticipated to reopen early September.
• Fullerton Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen mid-September.

Additional ramp closures for varying durations will be required to complete the project, according to IDOT officials, who said details, schedules and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the individual closure dates.

The overall outbound Kennedy project remains on pace to be completed by Thanksgiving, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations. The inbound lanes were completed in 2023, with the express lanes finished last construction season.

For more information, visit IDOT’s website, which features project details, maps, photos and fact sheets. The public can email questions to DOT.KennedyRehab@illinois.gov. For systemwide traffic and road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. IDOT can also be found on Facebook and X.