December 22, 2023

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Alderman Reilly Reports

Happy Holidays from Alderman Reilly

Alderman Brendan Reilly wishes you and your family a happy holiday season! In observance of the holidays, Alderman Reilly's Office will be closed from Monday, December 25 to Monday, January 1 - with the expectation of Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28. We will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday January 2.

 

If you are in need of city services, please call 311 for non-emergency requests or dial 911 if you require immediate assistance.

Christmas in the Wards

This holiday season our office partnered with Christmas in the Wards to provide 8 families  with holiday gifts, sponsored by Walmart. Additionally, one family received a new bike and a laptop. For 25 years, Christmas in the Wards has been providing holiday joy to underserved communities throughout Chicago. Please click here to learn more about Christmas in the Wards.


This year, our office partnered with 20th Ward Alderman Jeanette Taylor’s office to identify recipients. Gifts were selected and wrapped by 42nd Ward staff members. Each child received $250 worth of warm winter clothing, toys, and new technology like tablets and headphones. Alderman Reilly would like to thank Christmas in the Wards and Walmart for inviting our office to participate in this program.

New Year's Eve Celebration

The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the return of the New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular on the Chicago River to ring in 2024. In partnership with ART on THE MART, the New Year’s Eve celebrations will include a custom projection highlighting ART on THE MART’s five years of programming, beginning Sunday, Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m. The evening will culminate with a fireworks display from six bridges along the river beginning at midnight, coinciding with the grand Navy Pier fireworks display on the lakefront.


The fireworks show can be best viewed along the Chicago River from Upper Wacker Drive, between McClurg Court and Franklin Street. Bridge closures will be in place at Franklin Street, LaSalle Street, Clark Street, Dearborn Street, State Street and Columbus Drive on Sunday, Dec. 31, from 11:45 p.m. until 12:15 a.m. The Wabash and Michigan Avenue bridges will remain open. Public transportation is recommended for the best experience. 


The Riverwalk will be closed beginning at 11 p.m., with only a section from Wells Street to Orleans Street open until 12:15 a.m. for spectators to enjoy the full audio/visual projection program for the ART on THE MART show. Projections will begin at 7:30 p.m. and repeat until 11:55 p.m. before displaying a countdown to the New Year. Following the fireworks, a special New Year message will be displayed until 12:15 a.m. Note: The Chicago River will be closed to boat traffic from Franklin to Columbus from 11:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.


For more information on the New Year’s Eve celebration, visit Chicago.gov/NYE and follow on Facebook at ChicagoDCASE, on Twitter @ChicagoDCASE and Instagram @ChicagoDCASE.

Shared Cost Sidewalk Program Opens January 8, 2024

The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is an extremely popular voluntary program in which property owners share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City. Thousands of Chicagoans have been a part of this popular program, taking advantage of the low cost, exceptional value, and ease of participation. New applicants can apply on Monday, January 8, 2024 from 6 am - 10 pm.  


Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of participants is based on availability of funds. The program typically reaches capacity quickly, so you are encouraged to apply early. 


Applications will only be accepted via the City’s 311 system. Applicants can apply for the program by calling 311 or visiting CHI311 online. 

 

Please click here for more information regarding the Shared Cost Sidewalk Program.

CAPS Meetings

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

  • There are no remaining CAPS meetings for the month of December.


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

  • Beat 111 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 3rd at 3pm.
  • Beat 121 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 10th at 3pm.

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Helicopter Lift: 225 N Wabash


On Saturday, December 23, there will be a helicopter lift at 225 N Wabash Avenue. During the lift, pedestrian and vehicular access will be prohibited at the following locations:


  • North Wabash, from Wacker Drive to Lake Street.
  • Wacker Place, form Garland to State


Crane Lift: 50 E Erie


On Wednesday, December 27, from 8am-5pm, there will be a crane lift at 50 E Erie Street. During the lift, the following will be closed:

  • Sidewalk on the north side of Erie, from Wabash to a point 100' east thereof
  • Curb lane on the north side of Erie, from Wabash to a point 100' east thereof
  • Traffic lane on the north side of Erie, from Wabash to a point 100' east thereof


One lane of eastbound traffic will remain open during the lift.


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.  


Street Resurfacing


The following resurfacing projects will begin at the beginning of November 2023:


  • New Street, between East North Water and East Illinois
  • New Street, between East North Water and River Drive
  • River Drive, between North New Street and North McClurg Court
  • McClurg Court, between River Drive and East North Water
  • Huron, between Hudson and Sedgwick
  • Erie, between Hudson and Sedgwick


Crews will grind away the top layer of asphalt first and return within two weeks to install new asphalt. The entire process can take 3 weeks to complete (weather dependent).


Canal Street Viaduct Project:


Beginning the week of December 4, 2023, there will be night work for the preliminary stage in advance of the viaduct demolition on Canal between Jackson and Adams. This night work will involve activities that cannot be performed when the Chicago Union Station is open to the public.

 

During this preliminary night work, access to the east sidewalk of Canal Street between Adams and Jackson and the entrance to Union Station/222 South Riverside will be limited but maintained. Please note that this will only be for night work during this stage of work. Full access, similar to the current daytime configuration, will be restored each morning.

 

This preliminary work is anticipated to take approximately four weeks with the night work taking approximately two weeks.


PGL River North Project


Peoples Gas began a gas main project in River North. PGL will be working at the following locations:


  • Franklin, from Huron to Chicago
  • Superior, from Wells to Orleans
  • Chicago, from Orleans to LaSalle


The project will be completed at the end of 2023.


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. 


Water Main project: Superior, from Orleans to Kingsbury


In Mid-October 2023, the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) began a water main project on West Superior Street, between North Orleans Street and North Kingsbury Street. This project will be completed in three phases. 


Phase 1 will include prep work, utility locating, tree trimming, and infrastructure trenching. The trenching will begin at West Superior and North Kingsbury and move eastward.


DWM is coordinating all water shut offs with each affected building property managers. Work hours will be 7:30am to 7:00pm, Monday through Friday. All work is expected to be completed by the end of February 2024 (weather dependent).  If you have any questions related to this project, please contact Bobby Lyons (project manager) at 773-724-1594 or John Bania (site foreman) at 773-663-8648.


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.