Monday July 21st, 2025

Kennedy rehabilitation update: Week 18

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street continued to progress the week of July 14.

The reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, with two mainline outbound lanes closed at a time. The reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will remain closed. 

To accommodate ongoing bridge rehabilitation and ramp repairs, various ramp closures for varying durations will be required to complete the project, which remains on pace for an overall completion by Thanksgiving. Details, schedules and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the individual closure dates. ​ ​ ​ ​ 

The following ramps are currently closed: 

• Outbound Kennedy to Augusta Boulevard/Milwaukee Avenue, anticipated to reopen mid-October. ​ ​ ​ 
• North Avenue (Illinois 64) to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen early September. ​ 
• Outbound Kennedy to Armitage Avenue, anticipated to reopen early September. ​ 
• Fullerton Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen mid-August. ​ 
• Outbound Kennedy to Kimball Avenue, anticipated to reopen mid-August. ​ 
• Keeler Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen early September. ​ ​ ​ 
• Outbound Kennedy to Montrose Avenue, anticipated to reopen early August. 

​ ​ ​ ​ 

The public should follow the posted detours.

Click here for more details, including ramp closures

City of Chicago Events and Traffic Restrictions

 Wrigley Field Transportation Restrictions Maps 2024 - click here

Soldier Field Transportation Restrictions 2025 - click here

Transportation Restrictions for Bally's Temporary Casino 2024 - click here

Uptown Entertainment District Transportation Restrictions Eff 12/22/23 - click here

Continued Closure Of Canal St. At Union Station Phase II Updates - click here

1st Ward Entertainment District Transportation Restrictions Fri & Sat (7:00pm – 4:00am CDT)

 Effective June 26, 2025 - click here

North Ave Beach Transportation Restrictions Friday, June 27, 2025 - Monday, September 1, 2025

(11:00am - 11:00pm CDT) - click here

Soldier Field - Transportation Restrictions for Premier League Summer Series

30 July 2025 - click here

Lollapalooza Transportation Restrictions Thurs.July 31, 2025 - Sun. August 3, 2025- click here

McCormick Place Events Calendar

News You Can Use

REMINDER TO FILE THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION TAX (7595) RETURN BY AUGUST 15, 2025

Ground Transportation providers whose vehicles hold City-issued livery plates must file the 7595 - Ground Transportation Tax Return (which covers the period July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025) by Friday August 15, 2025. 

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NASCAR won't hold Chicago street course race in 2026

Will NASCAR return to the streets of Chicago in 2027 and beyond?

Source: - Yahoo

Will NASCAR ever have another street race in Chicago?

It’s an open question after NASCAR announced Friday that it would not hold the race in 2026. The 2025 edition of the race was the third after it debuted in 2023, but there was no contract with the sanctioning body and the city for 2026 and beyond despite NASCAR touting the event as a “success” over the past three years.

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Chicago Bets on Hotel Tax to Stay Competitive

Source: Skift Meetings

Kristen Reynolds, just two months into her role as president and CEO of Choose Chicago, is focused on what she calls a critical priority. Establishing a Chicago Tourism Improvement District (CTID) to secure long-term funding.

Brand USA’s $80-million funding cut highlights the urgency. 

“Sustainable funding is so important. We are one election away from people not understanding what we do, and need diversified and sustainable funding to protect us,” Reynolds said.

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New Baggage Handling System At O'Hare Terminal 5

Take a behind-the-scenes look at The New T5 Baggage Handling System (BHS) at O'Hare!

A key upgrade through the O'Hare 21 T5 Expansion and Modernization Project was a complete makeover of the BHS, including all conveyance and sortation systems.

From the moment a passenger checks in, all the way to loading the aircraft, the new BHS is a powerhouse that supports improved efficiency and an overall enhanced passenger experience.

Click for video

Navan Study: Global Business Travel Spending to Reach $2.9T by 2029

Source: Business Travel News

Global business travel spending will reach $2.9 trillion by 2029, driven in part by increased demand among small and midsized companies, according to a research report commissioned by Navan from data analytics company Euromonitor.

The research—based on a survey of 756 travel managers across nine countries, conducted from March 14 to April 15, as well as expert interviews and analysis of Euromonitor's own market database—said global business travel spending totaled $2.09 trillion in 2024, surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels, and that total is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 6.8 percent through 2029. That growth "reflects renewed confidence in business travel as companies increasingly recognize the essential value of face-to-face interactions, relationship-building and collaboration as core drivers for overall business success," according to Euromonitor.

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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."

- Henry Ford