St. Clair Water Main Project
On Tuesday, September 7 2021, the Department of Water Management (DWM) and Reliable Contracting & Equipment Company crews will begin to install 1,552 feet of 8-inch new water main in N. St. Clair Street, from E. Superior Street to E. Illinois Street. The old water main dates back to 1880 and needs to be replaced to create a more reliable and efficient system.
Automatic Email Updates
To receive automatic email updates about the progress of the project, please go to BuildingANewChicago.org to register. Simply enter your name, email address. You will be notified as the project enters each new construction phase – from our mobilization of equipment onto the site, to the installation of new pipes, to the final restoration of the street.
What You Need to Know During Construction
- Traffic: If DWM needs to close or limit traffic during construction for safety reasons, you will always be able to reach your home or business. Outside of working hours, a travel lane will be left open for local traffic only.
- Parking: DWM will post “No Parking” signs as needed during work hours (generally 7am-4pm). Parking outside of those hours will be allowed, but cars will need to be moved by the start of the next workday. They will try to preserve as much parking space as possible.
- Service transfers: DWM will give you 24-hour notice when they will have to temporarily interrupt water service to transfer water to the new main and you will need to start flushing your water system. However, in the event of an emergency shutdown during construction, they may not be able to give you prior warning.
Should you have any questions or concerns please call:
- 24-Hour City Service and Information Line: 311
- DWM Office of Public Affairs: 312-744-6635
Crain Lift: 160 North LaSalle Street
On Saturday, September 11, from 8pm to 6am, there will be a crane lift at 160 North LaSalle Street. During the lift, the following will be closed:
- 100' of sidewalk in front of 160 N LaSalle Street
- 100' of curb/traffic in front of 160 N. LaSalle Street
There will be flaggers and barricades on-site throughout the lift.
Helicopter Lift: 123 North Wacker Drive
On Saturday, September 11, from 10am to 12pm, there will be a helicopter lift at 123 North Wacker Drive. During the lift, the following will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian access:
- Wacker, from Washington to Lake
- Randolph, from Canal to Franklin
There will be barricades, detour signs, and police officers in-place throughout the lift.
Peoples Gas Modernization Project: Gold Coast
Peoples Gas will began Phase 1 of their Gas Main Modernization Project in the Gold Coast. Work hours are 8am-5pm, Monday - Friday. Phase 1 of their project has the following parts:
- Install new main on Lake Shore Drive, from Michigan to a point 1,200' east thereof. This portion of Phase 1 would start in August and last 25 days.
- Install 200' of new main in the intersection of Oak & Michigan. This includes crossing the eastern pedestrian tunnel. This portion of Phase 1 should start in mid-September and last 10 days.
- Install 450' of new main on the west side of Lake Shore Drive, from Oak to Cedar. This includes crossing the northern pedestrian tunnel. Work should begin in early October and last 17 days.
Please stay tuned to Reilly Reports for future updates regarding this project.
LG Construction: 751 N. Hudson and 451 W Chicago
LG Construction has broke ground at 751 N. Hudson Avenue and 451 W. Chicago Avenue, which are adjacent parcels. Work hours will be 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday.
Throughout the project, the following will be closed:
- Sidewalk/curb lane/traffic lane of the east side of Hudson, from Chicago to the first alley south thereof
- Sidewalk/curb lane/traffic lane on the west side of Sedgwick, from Chicago to the first alley south thereof
- Sidewalk/curb lane on the south side of Chicago, from Hudson to Sedgwick
There will be a protected pedestrian walkway in the curb lane on the south side of Chicago Avenue, from Hudson Avenue to Sedgwick Street.
This project is expected to take 18 months to complete (weather dependent).
Filming in the Ward This Week
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire will be filming at 221 W. Wacker Drive on Sunday, September 12. The following scenes will be filmed:
- 1st scene: Heroes pull up on a scene of a 3 car pile up (Wacker Dr between Franklin and Wells).
- 2nd scene: Driving sequence with the multiple fire apparatus rushing to Chicago Med (Driving from Wells and Wacker to Randolph to Wacker and back to Wells) .
- 3rd scene: Ambulance arriving to “Chicago Med" (Orleans north of the river).
There will be a full closure of Wacker, from Franklin to Wells (5am-7:30pm). There will be intermittent closures at the following locations:
- Randolph St from Wells St to Wacker Dr (5am-9pm)
- Wells St from Wacker Dr to Randolph St (5am-9pm)
- Wacker Dr from LaSalle to Wells St (5am-7:30pm)
Parking will be prohibited at the following locations:
- Both Sides of Wacker Dr From Wells St To Franklin St
- Both Sides of Wells St From Wacker Dr To Randolph St
- Both Sides of Franklin From Randolph To Wacker Dr
- Both Sides of Orleans St From 333 N Orleans To 400 N Orleans
- Both Sides of Lake St From Franklin To Wells St
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Luis Perez (Location Manager) 773 525-2326.
Willis Tower Filming
United Productions Foundation will be filming scenes for a TV show inside Willis Tower on Monday, September 13. In order to park essential vehicles, parking will be prohibited on on the south side of Quincy Street, from Wells to Franklin (10am-10pm).
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Katharin (K) Mraz (Location Manager) at 312-515-3593.
Wacker Drive Repainting Project
In late-July, the Chicago Department of Transportation began repainting Lower/Middle Wacker Drive, from North Field Boulevard to Lake Shore Drive. Work hours will be 8am-8pm, 6-days a week.
CDOT will be sandblasting/repainting 80' sections of Wacker Drive at a time. The sandblasting/repainting area will be contained and exhaust fans will be in-place to remove dust and fumes.
Traffic will be maintained in both directions at all times, and access to parking garages will not be blocked.
This project is expected to be completed mid-December 2021.
ComEd Vault Roof Replacement
ComEd is replacing a sidewalk vault roof at 344 West Erie Street. Work hours will be 8am-3pm, 5-days a week.
Throughout the work, the sidewalk and curb lane on the north side of West Erie, from North Orleans to the first alley west thereof will be closed.
There will be barricades, detour signs, and flaggers on-site throughout the project. All work is expected to be completed by mid-September (weather dependent).
Vaulted Sidewalk Fill-in: 600 W. Jackson
Starting at the beginning of August, the vaulted sidewalks adjacent to 600 W. Jackson will be filled and the sidewalks repaired. During the work, the following will be closed:
- Sidewalk/curb lane on the west side of Jefferson, from Jackson to Adams
- Sidewalk/curb lane on the north side of Jackson, from Jefferson to the first alley west thereof
There will be detour signs, barricades, and flaggers on-side throughout the project. All work is expected to be finished by the end of September.
Vaulted Sidewalk Repair: 20 N. Wacker Drive
The vaulted sidewalk at 20 North Wacker Drive is being repaired. Throughout the work, the sidewalk on the west side of Wacker, from Washington to a point 100' south thereof will be closed. Construction fencing will be used to enclose the sidewalk and detour signs will be in-place.
Pedestrians will be directed to the east side of North Wacker at West Washington and West Madison.
The project is expected to be completed in late September 2021.
354 North Union Construction
The Onni Group is constructing a 33 story residential building with 373 units. Work hours will be 8am-8pm, daily.
Parking will be prohibited on North Union, from West Kinzie to the cul-de-sac west thereof throughout the project. All construction equipment and vehicles will be staged on the Onni Group’s property. This project will take approximately two years to complete.
Vaulted Sidewalk Fill-in: 8 East Randolph
In early May, the vaulted sidewalk adjacent to 8 East Randolph Street began to be filled and the sidewalk repaired. During the work, the sidewalk on the east side of State Street, between Randolph Street and Benton Place will be closed to pedestrian traffic.
The contractor will construct a protected pathway for pedestrians, using jersey barricades, in the curb lane on the east side of State Street, between Randolph Street and Benton Place. All work is expected to be completed by mid-September.
430 N. Michigan Lobby Renovation
Starting in mid-September, GNP Realty Partners will be renovating the lobby at 430 N. Michigan Avenue. Throughout the project, there will be a 40’ urban canopy on the sidewalk in front of the building. In order to place the canopy on the sidewalk, the planter bed and City Information Panel (CIP) at this location will be temporarily removed. Both the planter bed and CIP will be reinstalled upon completion of the project.
The project is expected to be completed in mid-December.
South Water Street Viaduct Replacement
In March 2021, the Chicago Department of Transportation began demolition of the South Water Street Viaduct, between Lower Beaubien Court and Stetson Street. Work hours are 8am-8pm, daily.
As of May 10, vehicular and pedestrian access will be prohibited on the Upper and Lower levels of South Water Street, between Lower Beaubien Court and North Stetson Street. There will be barricades and detour signs in-place throughout the duration of the project.
This project is expected to be completed in July 2022 (weather dependent).
Renovations at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street
On February 15, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) began renovating the Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda and Hall at the Cultural Center, located at 78 East Washington Street. Throughout the project, DCASE will be using the Cultural Centers loading zone at 129 North Garland Court as storage for the project and to place their construction dumpster.
On Monday, April 19, canopies will be installed at the following locations:
- South side of Randolph, from Michigan to a point 50' west thereof
- West side of Michigan, from Randolph to a point 75' south thereof
The project is expected to be completed February 2022.
Construction: 609 West Randolph Street
Construction of a 15-story commercial building at 609 West Randolph Street began in mid-January. Throughout the duration of the project, the following will be closed:
- Curb/Traffic lane and sidewalk on south side of West Randolph, from North Jefferson to 621 West Randolph
There will be a canopy with a concrete crash wall and plywood enclosure for pedestrian use in the closed traffic lane on West Randolph, from North Jefferson to 621 West Randolph.
There will be detour signs, barricades, and flaggers in place for the duration of the project. This project is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2022 (weather dependent).
Aon Plaza Renovations
Renovations on the Aon Plaza located at 200 East Randolph Street began in December 2020. Throughout the project, the sidewalk on Upper East Randolph Street in front of the plaza, and on Lower East Randolph Street, will be reduced to 6’.
The project is expected to be completed at the end of September 2021 (weather dependent).
Façade Work: 160 North LaSalle Street
Bowa Construction began work in October 2020 to perform façade and cladding work at 160 North LaSalle Street. During the work, there will be scaffolding on the east, north, and south sides of the building.
All work is expected to be completed in September 2021.
Overnight Parking Ban Downtown
Until further notice, overnight parking will be restricted on the following streets during the weekend:
- Both sides of Oak, between Michigan and Clark
- South side of Oak, between LaSalle and Wells
- Both sides of Chicago, between Michigan and Wells
- Both sides of Ohio, between Michigan and Wells
- Both sides of Hubbard, between Michigan and Wells
- North side of Illinois, between Dearborn and Clark
- Both sides of Illinois, between Wabash and Dearborn
- Both sides of Rush, between Grand and Ohio
- Both sides of Rush, between Erie and Oak
- Both sides of Wabash, between the Chicago River and Grand
- Both sides of State, between Kinzie and Oak
- Both sides of Erie, from Rush to Wells
- Both sides of Huron from Rush to Dearborn
- Both sides of New Street, from Illinois to North Water
- Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Monroe to Balbo
- North side of Wacker Drive, from Wabash to Michigan
- North side of Wacker Drive, from Franklin to Columbus
- Both sides of Wacker Drive, from State to Wabash
- Both sides of Stetson, from Randolph to Wacker
- Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Randolph to Wacker
- Both sides of Beaubien Court, from Randolph to Lake
- Both sides of Randolph, from Harbor to Michigan
-
Both sides of Ohio, from Michigan to Fairbanks
- Both sides of Erie, from Kingsbury to Larrabee
- West side of Larrabee, from Erie to Huron
As always, please make sure to read all posted signage before parking your vehicle downtown.
One Chicago Square-1 W Chicago Pedestrian and Traffic Impacts
Although fencing is already in place for the sidewalk closure, pedestrians still have access to the sidewalk, but should exercise caution when walking by the construction site.
The curb lanes along Chicago, State, Superior, and Dearborn will remain a No Parking/Tow Zone throughout the project, to allow for demolition, and then the protected pedestrian walkway.
The sidewalk along the east side of Dearborn, from Superior to Chicago, has been closed to pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians will be rerouted to the west side of Dearborn.
Please stay tuned to Reilly Reports as additional construction updates and closures will be announced.
