February 23, 2024

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Alderman Reilly Reports

Alderman Reilly in the Media

Earlier this week, Alderman Reilly joined Pete McMurray on his podcast to discuss the City not renewing the ShotSpotter contract, the migrant crisis, and upcoming Summer events. Please click here to listen to the interview.

You are Invited to Join Alderman Reilly to March in the Downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade

The annual downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 16 at 12:15pm. You are invited to join Alderman Reilly to march in the parade. Our group will meet in Slot #42, which will be on East Balbo, west of North Columbus.


Due to street closures for the parade, we encourage you to arrive at Slot #42 at 11:15am to ensure access. Please click here to RSVP to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with Alderman Reilly and his team.

 

We hope to see you at the parade!

400 North Lake Shore Drive Construction Update

As discussed in Reilly Reports, construction at 400 N Lake Shore Drive began last month. As a next step, Related will begin pouring the mat slab for the tower next week. This is the basic structural component of the building foundation and must be poured continuously to ensure structural integrity. Weather dependent, this is estimated to occur next Thursday, 2/29. Teams will arrive on site for preparation at 5:30 AM, and the concrete trucks will begin to pour at 6:00 AM with an estimated completion time of 6:00 PM. In the unlikely event that there is an unforeseen condition, the work is approved to occur for a maximum time of 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM. 


As promised, all construction trucks will be entering the site via the southbound Lake Shore Drive ramp and exiting the site via the northbound lake shore drive ramp with 4 flaggers deployed to ensure proper traffic flow in and out of the Project site. During the pour, all trucks completing the work will be located within their site with no impact to the public way.

Early Voting Open Downtown

Early Voting for the March 19, 2024 Presidential Primary Election opened last week, at the Loop Supersite (191 N. Clark) and Chicago Board of Election (69 W. Washington, 6th Floor).


HOURS OF OPERATION - Supersite (191 N. Clark) & CBOE Offices (69 W. Washington)

February 15th - March 10th

  • Weekdays: 9:00am - 6:00pm
  • Saturday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm


March 11th through March 18th

  • Weekdays from 9:00am to 7:00pm
  • Saturday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday:  10:00am - 4:00pm


Early Voting in all 50 Wards of Chicago will begin Monday, March 4, 2024 at 9:00am.


Click here to download the full Early Voting schedule and sites for the March 19, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. All locations are ADA-compliant and fully accessible to voters with disabilities. 


All 50 Ward Early Voting sites and the Board Supersite (191 N. Clark) will also be open as vote centers on Election Day - March 19, 2024 from 6:00am to 7:00pm. Apply online to become a Judge of Election, in the 42nd Ward, with the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners, visit pollworker.chicagoelections.gov

Thompson Center Update

As previously mentioned in Reilly Reports, Alderman Reilly rezoned the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) from PD 270 to DC-16 at the request of Governor JB Pritzker. Rezoning the JRTC helped the State of Illinois sell the property to JRTC Holding, LLC. Google will become the building’s new occupant after extensive renovations are completed. 


Renovations will begin early March 2024. Work hours will be Monday-Friday, from 8am to 5pm. During remodeling, the following will be closed:


Randolph Street Side:


The arcade walk-through will be closed and construction fencing will be in-place. There will be a protected pedestrian canopy built on the sidewalk between North LaSalle and North Clark. The bike lane will remain open throughout the project.


LaSalle Street Side:


Both northbound lanes of traffic will remain open. The arcade walk-through will be closed and construction fencing will be in-place. There will be a protected pedestrian walkway between West Lake Street and West Randolph Street. 


Lake Street Side:


The sidewalk between Clark and LaSalle will be closed. There will be a projected pedestrian walkway in the curb lane. The entrance to the CTA substation will remain open and protected by a canopy. 


Clark Street Side:


The sidewalk, curb lane, and one traffic lane on the west side of Clark, between Lake and Randolph will be closed and fenced off. Pedestrians will be directed to the east side of the street. 


The tower crane, swing stage/mast will be on this side of the building. Construction vehicles will enter/exit the site from Clark. 


This project is expected to be completed in February 2026.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS018District@chicagopolice.org)

  • There are no CAPS meetings scheduled for the month of February.


Click here for 18th District meeting locations.


1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS001District@chicagopolice.org)

  • There are no CAPS meetings scheduled for the month of February.


42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Michigan Avenue Bridge Work


On Monday, February 26, CDOT will begin repairs to the sidewalk on the west side of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The will be closed for up to two weeks but will be completed and fully opened to traffic before St. Patrick's Day weekend. During working hours, the southbound curb lane will also be impacted. CTA will be notified and we will watch these impacts and make adjustments where we can.


Pedestrians will be detoured to the east side sidewalk. 



DWM Project: Lakeshore East Park


The Department of Water Management (DWM) will began excavation in Lakeshore East park, north of the playground. DWM's sewer line is clogged at this location - causing back-ups in a near-by building. 


Work will occur from 8am-5pm. The work area will be fenced off and will be inaccessible during the project. The project is expected to be completed within 30 days (weather dependent). 


Restoration will occur in late spring/early summer.



CDOT Construction: Pin & Link Plate Assembly and Expansion Joints


The Department of Transportation will begin a project to replace pin and link plate assemblies and expansion joints associated with the bridge structures of upper and intermediate Columbus Dr., Randolph St., and Stetson Ave. Pin and link plate assembly work will be performed from the underside of the bridge decks while expansion joint replacements will occur from above.  The work is anticipated to begin on Monday, November 13th, 2023 and progress to completion (anticipated Fall 2024).  


Work is to start along upper, intermediate, and lower levels of the following roadways: 


  • N. Columbus Drive between E. Wacker Drive and E. Randolph Street
  • E. Randolph Street between N. Michigan Avenue and N. Field Boulevard
  • N. Stetson Avenue between E. Wacker Drive and E. Lake Street


During construction, portions of these bridge structures will be barricaded off to prohibit vehicles and pedestrians directly over the active work. 


  • Vehicles will be shifted and/or detoured to allow the work to progress. 
  • The sidewalk on at least one side of the roadway and crosswalks at roadway intersections will remain open for pedestrians. 
  • Coordination of temporary access restriction may be required with private properties directly adjacent to the project.  



Murphy Auditorium Renovation


Driehaus Museum purchased the Murphy Auditorium (50 E Erie) in June 2023, and began the following interior renovations:


  • Offices are going to be renovated
  • Stage has sunken – leveled out; fix accessibility issue
  • New elevator to go all the way to the top floor


Throughout the project, the following will be in-place:


  • Pedestrian canopy over the sidewalk in front of 50 E Erie
  • 100' of curb lane will be closed in front of 50 E Erie for material deliveries and small crane


They will need to use a small crane periodically throughout the project to lift materials onto the roof that can't fit through the doorway. 


LSD Bridge & Viaduct Project - September 25 to Summer 2024


The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) began working on the Lake Shore Drive Bridge and Viaduct Network between Monroe and Ontario. This work will include removing and replacing link plates, stainless steel pins, and Teflon bushings and expansion joint rehabilitation.  


Upper Level Lake Shore Drive will have one permanent lane closure in each direction and an additional lane closure during off-peak hours.


Intermediate Level Lake Shore Drive will have two permanent lane closures in each direction.


This project is expected to be completed summer of 2024.



Temporary Bus Stop Elimination


Until March 2024, the westbound bus stop at Grand and St. Clair will be temporarily removed.


  • Stop ID Number: 761
  • Route Stopping: #29 – State, #65 – Grand, #120 – Ogilvie/Streeterville Express, #121 – Union/Streeterville Express


State & Lake Utility Relocations


Utility companies began relocating utilities in advance of the State and Lake CTA project. Train services will not be disrupted during utility relocations. 

 

At least 1 lane of traffic will remain open (1 lane each direction on State St) at all times, but other driving and parking lanes may be closed. 


Construction equipment and materials will be stored on the street, including during time periods between active work. Work will primarily occur 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays, but there will be limited work during nights. Utility companies are aware of and required to abide by the Chicago noise ordinance, which limits noisy work during overnight hours.


Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation


In 2023, IDOT began rehabilitating the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street.


The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridges and the Reversible Lane Access Control system, replacing overhead sign structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.


The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following stages:

  • 2023 – Inbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 1 fact sheet.
  • 2024 – Reversible Express Lanes: Click here for stage 2 fact sheet.
  • 2025 – Outbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 3 fact sheet.


The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.


Click here for a project overview.

Click here for a FAQ

Click here to see photos and videos of the project.