CHICAGO (WLS) — An event Tuesday morning marked the official start of construction season in Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined other city leaders and construction workers at the 2FM Facility in Englewood.
Mayor Johnson attended a construction kickoff event Tuesday.
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They all talked about the importance of construction season, despite the delays and challenges it can cause.
This year, the city plans to resurface more than 180 miles of arterial roads and residential streets.
That includes a stretch of Milwaukee Avenue, where already some traffic restrictions are being put in place.
For the next six weeks, the bustling stretch of Milwaukee Avenue, spanning from Kinzie Street to Ogden Avenue, will undergo revitalization efforts. The crews will focus on resurfacing the River West section of Milwaukee, in addition to the installation of new catch basins and bus boarding islands.
Temporary lane closures and local traffic restrictions went into effect Monday. Just don’t blame the mayor if you’re late to work.
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“To all the Chicagoans who may experience frustrations due to the ongoing infrastructure developments and the resultant traffic disruptions, I kindly acknowledge your concerns. Nevertheless, I wish to highlight the positive impact of these investments on our city. For any grievances related to traffic, I encourage you to direct your inquiries to the appropriate contact,” Johnson remarked on Tuesday.
In addition to the ongoing enhancements, a significant portion of the budget, amounting to $63 million, will be allocated towards street lighting improvements. Furthermore, there are plans for the reconstruction of 70 blocks of alleys to enhance drainage systems and mitigate flooding issues.
“With every resurfacing project, we are embedding safety and accessibility improvements. That means ADA, upgraded crosswalks and more accessible bus stops,” Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Carney said.
But perhaps the year’s most significant projects will involve a $400 million federal, state and local investment to rebuild 16 of the city’s aging bridges.
The most important of them is the long overdue replacement of the Chicago bridge, with a tied-arch structure that will include a new Riverwalk connection, a new dedicated bus lane and a separate bike lane.
The viaduct at Halsted Street and Chicago Avenue will also be rebuilt, with that project set to start later this year and extend well into 2026.
Officials are reminding drivers to exercise increased caution and to be alert of flaggers and other construction workers when going through active work zones.
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