January 29, 2021
Alderman Reilly Reports
Chicago Police Department Hosting Vehicular Hijacking Webinars Next Week
Next week, local Chicago Police Department (CPD) Districts will be hosting Vehicular Hijacking webinars for residents. In response to the alarming rise of vehicular hijackings around the City, CPD has expanded their carjacking task force, adding additional resources in each detective area to focus exclusively on carjackings.  

As some may know, many of these incidents are committed by juveniles. Therefore, CPD will be working with community members, the State’s Attorney, youth outreach workers and federal partners to address the root cause of this issue. 

Alderman Reilly believes there needs to be serious consequences for these offenses, especially when guns are used to commit the crime. The current state of affairs is totally unacceptable. There needs to be a way to make the prospect of getting arrested and being convicted of a crime with a firearm a very scary proposition for a juvenile. Alderman Reilly joined Anna Davlantes and Bob Sirott this week on WGN Radio to discuss this serious public safety issue.  

Information on each of the webinars can be found below: 
Chicago Police Department - 1st District
Join CPD Executive Leaders, the Community Policing Team and Elected Officials (including Alderman Reilly) on Wednesday, February 3 at 6:00pm for a Vehicular Hijacking Town Hall.  

Zoom information is listed below:

Meeting ID: 824 4528 1282
Passcode: OCP001

Residents can email questions in advance to [email protected].

For information about the 1st District, please click here.
Chicago Police Department – 12th District
Join the Community Policing Team and Youth Investigations Division for a safety and awareness discussion on carjacking in Chicago on Friday, February 5 at 4:30pm. 

To register, receive the Zoom information, or submit questions please email [email protected].

For information about the 12th District, please click here.
Important Announcements and Updates
CDPH COVID-19 Updates: Latest Data and Emergency Travel Order Changes
As of January 28, the City’s test positivity rate is at approximately 6.5% and averaging 660 new cases per day. As a reminder, because of the improved metrics, the State has loosened restrictions and Chicago now falls under Tier 1 Mitigations. Information about these mitigations and other guidelines can be found at chicago.gov/reopening.  

The City of Chicago continues to vaccinate those in phase 1b, this includes Chicagoans age 65+ and specific groups of highest-risk and front-line essential workers. CDPH expects it to take at least through February and March for frontline essential workers and those who are 65+ to get their first dose of vaccine because of limited supply and the number of providers who are able to administer the vaccine. The vaccine will be offered at no cost to all Chicagoans who want it, but patience is needed while vaccine quantities increase. 

CDPH will be using the same four channels individuals use to receive flu shots: 

Health Care Providers 
  • The great majority of people in 1b, especially those in the 65+ group, will get the vaccine, by appointment, from a medical clinic over February and March. Most ideally you will be vaccinated at your own doctor’s office, community clinic, or affiliated hospital. 
  • These settings will not have enough vaccine for everyone in 1b right away, and CDPH asked them to prioritize their older and more medically vulnerable patients--but over February and March, each week additional appointments will become available as Chicago receives more vaccine. 

Pharmacies 
  • Some people in Chicago get the flu shot from a pharmacy, and pharmacies are especially important for people who may not access medical care as regularly. CDPH has more than 70 pharmacies all over the City enrolled to be able to vaccinate residents, with more coming online every week. Again, COVID-19 vaccine will be by appointment. 
  • Walgreens
  • Mariano's 
  • Walmart
  • Jewel Osco
  • The City of Chicago does not endorse any of the listed organizations.This list is provided only as a convenience (full disclaimer here).

Employers 
  • Many of our health care workers in 1a got vaccine through their employer, and CDPH will be following that same model in 1b for front-line essential workers, pairing employers with vaccinating partners. CDPH will be bringing vaccine into larger workplaces and connecting workers in smaller workplaces with offsite vaccine appointments. 

CDPH recommends that individuals reach out to their healthcare providers to learn more about their plans for patient vaccination. People who are interested in getting updates on vaccine rollout or about when it may be their turn to get vaccinated should sign up for CHI COVID Coach at chi.gov/covidcoach. Residents can also stay informed on Chicago's vaccination progress and announcements by signing up for the COVID-19 newsletter or following CDPH on social media. Chicago.gov/COVIDvax is updated each day with the most up-to-date information. 

As a reminder the Emergency Travel Order is still in effect and applies to all U.S. states and territories. Only one state, Hawaii, does not have post-travel requirements (U.S. territories not show below are also categorized as yellow). 
On January 12, 2021, CDC issued an Order requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the U.S. If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get tested no more than 3 days before you travel by air into the United States (U.S.) and show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight, or be prepared to show documentation of recovery (proof of a recent positive viral test and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).  
Winter Storm Watch This Weekend in Chicago
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch that will be in effect starting Saturday, January 30 at 3:00pm until Sunday, January 31 at 6:00pm. The snow will be its most intense Saturday evening into early overnight, with snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches and high winds with expected gusts of 35 mph.
Residents are urged to take precaution, plan accordingly and allow extra time while driving to and from your destination this weekend. Due to weather conditions, the bike and pedestrian paths on the Lakefront Trail from North Ave. to Ohio St. are closed until further notice.  

OEMC will coordinate response efforts with the City’s public safety and infrastructure departments and public partners to keep residents safe and informed. Additionally, OEMC issues several alerts and notifications to keep residents up to date on weather conditions and emergencies:  

  • Notify Chicago: Sign up for emergency alerts at www.NotifyChicago.org  
  • CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5  
  • COVID: Get COVID-19 updates by TEXTING “COVID19” to 6-7-2-8-3  
  • CHIBIZ: Business updates, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3  

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. 
Community Meeting for Development Proposal at 640 W. Washington Boulevard
Last month, Alderman Reilly announced a new development proposal, located at 640 West Washington Boulevard, the details of which can be read here.

As part of his open and transparent community review process of all local development proposals, Alderman Reilly has directed the Developer, Crescent Heights, to co-host a virtual community meeting with the Neighbors of the West Loop (NOWL) to present the project. 

Please join NOWL to engage in a direct dialogue with the development team and gain a better understanding of their proposal. The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, February 3rd at 6 PM. Attendees can watch the meeting here.

Although Alderman Reilly will not be present at the meeting, a member of his staff will monitor the conversation to keep him informed of any feedback. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please forward any feedback regarding this project to [email protected].  
Attention Seniors: A Message from the Chicago Department of Finance
2021 renewals for the Senior Citizen Sewer Rebate were mailed this month. As a reminder to seniors, the Office of the City Clerk no longer functions as the intake office for receipt of eligible first-time applicants and renewals. Instead, the Department of Finance's Utility Billing & Customer Service Division processes the applications.

Senior citizens who own and occupy their own residence, but who are not eligible for the Senior Citizen Sewer Charge Exemption due to property type, can apply for the Senior Citizen Sewer Rebate. This provides an annual $50 rebate in lieu of the exemption.

To be eligible for the sewer charge annual rebate:

  • You must be 65 years of age, or older, as of January 1 for the year you are applying.
  • You must be the sole owner, or owner in joint tenancy, or tenancy in common of the property.
  • You must occupy the property as your principal place of residence.
  • You must own a townhouse, condominium unit, or cooperative apartment that shares a common water bill.

If you meet all the above criteria and wish to apply, you must submit a Senior Sewer Application. The form must be completed in its entirety and submitted with all supporting documentation. For seniors filings renewals, the yearly renewal form requires the claimant to provide a copy of their government issued identification and a recent property tax bill for verification purposes.

Senior citizens with questions concerning the Sewer Rebate program should be directed to 312-744-4426 or [email protected].
Snow Removal Reminder – Keep Sidewalks Clear of Snow and Ice!
Alderman Reilly would like to remind residents and business owners to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Clearing sidewalks is the law, and it's our responsibility to each other during the winter. Many people rely on walking and transit as their primary way to get around. Without a wide, clear path through snow and ice, it is especially difficult for people with disabilities, seniors, and children to walk. 
Please remember that per Chicago Municipal Code 10-8-180, "every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground in the city abutting upon any public way or public place shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of such building or lot of ground."  

Individuals who do not comply can face fines up to $500 per day of violation and businesses can be fined up to $1,000 per day. To report locations that do not clear their sidewalk dial 3-1-1 to make a "Snow - Uncleared Sidewalk" request or call Alderman Reilly's office so we can alert the property owner of their responsibility.  

Make your neighborhood safe for everyone to get around this winter. Help the City of Chicago provide a great pedestrian environment and take responsibility for your sidewalk by clearing snow and ice!
2021 Tax Prep Chicago
The City of Chicago will offer free, confidential tax help from January 25 through mid-April in partnership with Ladder Up. Trained volunteer tax preparers can assist you in completing and electronically filing Federal and Illinois tax returns for tax year 2021 and, in some cases, for prior years. Also find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and other tax credits!

Who is eligible for free tax help?

  • Families earning up to $57,000 annually
  • Individuals earning up to $30,000 annually

What information to bring to a tax site?

  • Personal Information
  • Year-end Income Statements
  • Expenses and Credits

The tax filing deadline is Thursday, April 15! For more information, visit www.taxprepchicago.org or call (312) 588-6900 to schedule an appointment.
Police Alerts and Community Notices
Upcoming Events
January is National Mentoring Month!
Become a Mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Chicago is a one-to-one mentoring program that matches students with a screened mentor based on location, interests and hobbies. Matches meet 2-4 times a month for a minimum of one year. Students in this program are more likely to graduate high school, avoid risky behaviors, and improve relationships with their peers.

This is currently a 100% virtual opportunity. For more information, please feel free to contact Miesha at 312-207-4249 or [email protected]. 

Visit bbbschgo.org to learn more!
Chicago Park District Resumes In-Person Programming
January 25 - March 28
n-person programming will resume Monday, January 25 at parks across the city after the State adjusted metrics that determine COVID-19 restrictions for Illinois regions. Winter programs previously scheduled to begin January 4 were suspended in accordance with the State’s Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation plan to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

Under the current guidelines, limited, socially distanced programming will be offered at parks across the city. Programs will run from January 25 through March 28. In order to adhere to strict capacity limits, all in-person participants must register. Masks must be worn at all times. Virtual programs continue as originally scheduled running from January 4 through March 21.

More information about programming options, in-perosn and can be found here.
Chicago Animal Care and Control 2021 'New Year New Home' Adoption Event
Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) is kicking off the year with another adoption event! Pets help us stay healthy, happy and bring fun and joy to us every day! From January 19-31, all approved adopters will be entered into a raffle for a free fitness package plus take home a goody bag filled with toys, treats and a CACC bandana.

For a list of animals available for adoption, please click here. CACC is open daily by appointment only. For any questions or concerns, please email [email protected]. The new year is a great time to bring home a new furry friend!
The City of Chicago Treasurer’s Office and Operation HOPE Partner to Launch HOPE Inside
Workshops on February 3, 10 and 17
HOPE Inside is a year-long initiative offering credit and money management resources for free to all Chicago residents and small business owners. HOPE Inside will provide complimentary services and education to those facing financial challenges, need assistance on debt management, credit score improvement, conversations focused on financial insecurities, building and preserving wealth, and much more!  

The HOPE Inside initiative will counsel residents and business owners on the language of money, creating a budget, developing customized action plans around building their businesses, buying homes, repairing credit scores, and making better decisions with the resources available to help protect them from emergencies, save money on expenses, and build long-term wealth. 

Upcoming workshops are listed below:

  • February 3 at 12:00pm - Open House Planning Your Financial Journey 
  • February 10 at 12:00pm - Building Your Own Financial Plan 
  • February 17 at 12:00pm - Preserving Your Finances in 2021 

To sign-up for workshops, please click here. For more information please visit www.chicagocitytreasurer.com/hopeinside.
Live from the Library!
Weekdays at 10:00am
Watch story times with Chicagoans you know and love at Live from the Library! See a new reader at 10 a.m. every weekday, or browse past story times on Facebook Live. Guest readers include Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Tweedy, as well as Chicago Public Library (CPL) children's librarians.

Individuals can watch past and live videos each weekday on CPL's Facebook page.
42nd Ward CAPS Meetings
CAPS meetings offer city residents an opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat officers who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing feedback, which help the police to monitor crime issues.

Attention Residents: New in 2021, each beat will be hosting its own meeting, departing from the sector model. They will also be virtual (via Zoom) until further notice. The beat meeting schedule for January is below:

18th District

  • Beat 1831 - January 26 at 5:00pm
  • Beat 1832 - January 26 at 6:00pm
  • Beat 1833 - January 28 at 5:00pm
  • Beat 1834 - January 28 at 6:00pm

Please make sure to confirm the details for upcoming meetings with your Police District's CAPS office. 

1st District: 312-745-4290
12th District: 312-746-8396
18th District: 312-742-5870

To find your district and beat, please click here.
42nd Ward Street Closures and Construction Notices
Crane Lift: 633 N. Michigan Avenue

On Friday, January 29, from 8pm-12am, there will be a crane lift at 633 North Michigan Avenue. During the lift, the following will be closed:

  • Sidewalk on the north side of East Ontario, from North Michigan to a point 200' east thereof
  • Curb lane on the north side of East Ontario, from North Michigan to a point 200' east thereof
  • Northernmost traffic lane on East Ontario, from North Michigan to a point 200' east thereof

There will be flaggers and barricades in place throughout the lift. 

Brown Line Elevated Track Repair
 
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is performing maintenance on the Brown Line Elevated Track over North Franklin Street, between Hubbard Street and Grand Avenue. Work will occur from 8am-3:30pm during the weekdays and from 8am-7pm on the weekends.  
 
North Franklin, between Grand Avenue and Hubbard Street will be closed to vehicular traffic this weekend (January 30-31). Throughout the project, the following will be closed intermittently: 
 
  • Curb lanes and parking  
  • Alley access  
  • Sidewalks  
 
All work is expected to be completed at the end of March 2021 (weather dependent).

Gold Coast Music Video Shoot
 
On Sunday, January 31, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Triptych Visuals will be shooting a small music video for an independent R&B artist at 120 East Oak Street. There will only be 5 crew members on-site and the artist will be lip-synching while walking down the sidewalk. 
 
During the filming, parking will be prohibited at 114-120 East Oak Street to park essential vehicles and equipment. 
 
Conduit Installation at Rush and Ohio
 
On Thursday, January 28, Crown Castle began the installation of new conduit in the intersection of North Rush Street and East Ohio Street. Throughout the work, there will be intermittent lane closures. 
 
All work is expected to be completed by Friday, February 5 (weather dependent). 
 
Loop Filming Notice
 
Kate Levinson Locations will be filming a commercial in the Chicago Athletic Association located at 12 South Michigan Avenue from Saturday, January 30 to Thursday, February 4. Parking will be prohibited at the following locations to park essential vehicles from 6am-8pm on the days the commercial is being filmed:
 
  • South side of East Madison Street, from 75 East Madison Street to 97 East Madison Street
  • East side of South Wabash Avenue, from 13 South Wabash Avenue to 35 South Wabash Avenue 

Cold Water Pipe Installation: 320 South Canal Street

Starting the week on January 25, Enwave will be installing cold water pipes at 320 South Canal Street, during the overnight hours (8pm-4am). This project is expected to last two weeks. 

At the beginning of February, Enwave will be connecting the cold water pipes at 320 South Canal Street to its cold water plant system. This requires infrastructure trenching to occur. While work is occurring, the southbound traffic lane on South Canal Street, from West Van Buren Street to a point 200’ south thereof will be closed to vehicular traffic. 

All work is expected to be completed at the beginning of March (weather dependent). 

IJKL Construction Update
 
Lendlease Construction will be installing façade panels for Cascade Park on the following dates:

  • Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31
  • Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7
 
During the installation of façade panels, Harbor Service Drive will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. A flagger will be on-site while work is occurring and the street will reopen during the evenings.

Additionally, Lendlease is currently installing structural geofoam at the IJKL site. Geofoam is a highly compressed thermoplastic that is used to fill-in the space between the top of the concrete deck and the soil. 
 
The geofoam will be cut and trimmed onsite to fit a specific design plan. Cutting and trimming the geofoam might result in some debris being blown off the site. Lendlease will make every effort to contain this and clean the area surrounding its site.
 
The geofoam installation is expected to be finished at the beginning of February. 

Streeterville Filming Notice
 
On Tuesday, January 2, from 8am-6pm, Chicago Fire will be filming scenes for an upcoming show on East Grand Avenue, between Lake Shore Drive and North Streeter Drive. Pyrotechnics and other special effects will not be used while shooting the scene.
 
Vehicular traffic will be prohibited intermittently during filming at the following locations: 
 
  • East Grand Avenue, from Lake Shore Drive to North Streeter Drive
  • North Streeter Drive, from East Grand Avenue to East Illinois Street
 
Parking will be prohibited at the following locations to park essential vehicles and equipment: 

  • South side of Grand, from Streeter to 536 E Grand (Monday, February 1, from 7am-5pm)
  • Both sides of Illinois, from Streeter to LSD (Tuesday, February 2, from 3am-6pm)
  • Both sides of Streeter, from Illinois to Grand (Tuesday, February 2, from 3am-6pm)
  • Both sides of Grand, from Streeter to LSD (Tuesday, February 2, from 3am-6pm)
  • South side of Grand, from Streeter, to 536 E Grand (Wednesday, February 3, from 7am-5pm)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Luis Perez (location manager) at 773-525-2326 or Antonio O (on-site coordinator) at 773-938-3358.

Loop Film Notice: 600 South Columbus Drive

On Tuesday, February 2, from 10am-11:59pm, TVM Productions will be filming scenes for a TV series at 600 S. Columbus Drive. During the filming, parking on both sides of South Columbus, from East Monroe to East Balbo will be restricted to park essential vehicles and equipment. 

New 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).

Demolition: 16-22 West Erie Street

Earlier this month, Atlas Demolition began demolition of 16-22 West Erie Street. Earlier this week, Atlas began to install a pedestrian canopy on the sidewalk in front of 16-22 West Erie Street and exterior demolition will begin immediately thereafter. The project is expected to be completed by mid-February (weather dependent).

Upper Wacker Drive Traffic Reconfiguration

Now that the majority of construction at St. Regis Chicago (formerly Vista Tower) located at 363 East Wacker Drive is completed and residents occupy the building, the traffic pattern on Upper Wacker Drive, between North Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive has returned to the pre-construction traffic configuration.  

On Thursday, January 21 at 2:00 p.m., McHugh Construction completed the following traffic pattern changes: 

  • The south side of Upper Wacker Drive, between North Columbus Drive and the turnaround in front of St. Regis Chicago will return to a one-way eastbound thoroughfare. The turnaround will connect motorists to a one-way westbound stretch of Upper Wacker Drive.  
  • The “No Left Turn” restriction for westbound motorists at Upper Wacker Drive and Columbus will be removed. Motorists traveling westbound on Upper Wacker Drive will be able to turn southbound onto North Columbus Drive. Westbound motorists are prohibited from making a u-turn at Upper Wacker Drive and Columbus onto Lower Wacker Drive.  

While McHugh Construction is completing the installation of concrete fill-ins and brick pavers, portions of the street and sidewalk on Upper Wacker Drive in front of St. Regis Chicago will be closed and fenced off. A lane of traffic will be open at all times. This work is expected to be completed by the end of February (weather dependent).  

For more information or to speak with the General Contractor for the project, please contact McHugh Construction Company's Senior Project Manager, Joe Kuna at [email protected]. 

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 by August 2021 (weather dependent). 

Construction at 61 West Erie Street

In November 2020, LG Construction began construction of a five-story, 28 unit apartment building at 61 West Erie Street. Please find LG Construction’s phase two construction timeline below. 

  • Second floor precast concrete walls and floors are being installed the week of January 25. 
  • A small crane will be placed in the traffic lane in front of 61 W. Erie Street from Monday, February 1 to Friday, February 5. The crane will be removed while work is not occurring and the traffic lane will reopen.  

Throughout the construction process, the following will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic:

  • 100' of sidewalk and curb lane in front of 61 W. Erie Street
  • The alley adjacent to the west side of 61 W. Erie Street

There will be detour signs, barricades, and flaggers in place for the duration of the project.

Façade Work: 160 North LaSalle Street

Starting at the end of October, Bowa Construction will be performing 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 June 2021.

Overnight Parking Ban Downtown

From now until January 31, 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 Wabash 
  • 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, between Kingsbury and Larrabee
  • Both sides of Larrabee, from Erie to Huron

As always, please make sure to read all posted signage before parking your vehicle downtown. 

Jane Byrne Interchange Closures and Detours

As of Thursday, January 21, the ramp from northbound 1-90/94 to eastbound Ida B. Wells Drive will close for approximately one week starting at 1: 00 a.m.
 
The closure is necessary to remove a temporary pier column to accommodate construction of a new outbound collector-distributor road. The new design will improve safety, efficiency and reduce conflict points by relocating the left-hand entrance ramps at Jackson and Adams, along with separating the exit ramps to Washington Boulevard, Lake, Madison, and Randolph from mainline traffic. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that four reconstructed ramps will open at the Jane Byrne Interchange as of Tuesday, Dec. 15, weather permitting. The completion of the ramps marks a major milestone as all 11 ramps have been completely reconstructed or are currently under construction.

The following ramps are now open:

  • Canal Street entrance ramp to outbound Ida B. Wells Drive
  • Inbound Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) ramp to Taylor Street
  • The exit ramp was relocated to just north of Adams Street and reconfigured to reduce conflict from inbound lanes.
  • Inbound Kennedy ramp to inbound Ida B. Wells
  • The exit ramp was reconfigured to reduce conflict from southbound lanes.
  • Outbound Ida B. Wells ramp to outbound Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94)
  • The entrance ramp was reconfigured, and access was moved to the right lane. While ramp construction is completed, a temporary detour will bypass ongoing construction along the outbound Ryan. A signed detour will direct Wells to Ryan ramp traffic to continue to Union Street, through two traffic signals at Taylor Street and Roosevelt Road, to connect to the outbound Ryan via the Roosevelt Road ramp.
  • Motorists should be aware of the change and anticipate some delays the first few days of the configuration.

As of this month, 27 of the 35 project components have been completed. When the project reaches its anticipated 2022 completion date, the improved conditions, increased safety and enhanced traveling experience will be clear to all who use the national transportation hub known as the Jane Byrne Interchange. For more information about the Jane Byrne Interchange project, please visit janebyrneinterchange.org.

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.