River North CTA Bus Reroutes and Navy Pier Schedule Revision

Alderman Reilly recently met with the Acting President of the CTA to discuss altering the Chicago Avenue #66 bus route while construction is ongoing on the Chicago Avenue Bridge. Congestion downtown is severe right now due to three major bridge projects all being done simultaneously in the 42nd Ward. The Alderman pressed CDOT about the lack of coordination on these closures in a recent budget hearing here. Alderman Reilly received numerous reports from residents that CTA buses were contributing to the excessive congestion in River North during this construction season. As a result, the westbound #66 bus will no longer stop at Hudson or Kingsbury on Chicago Ave to help ease traffic. This schedule now matches that of the eastbound #66 bus.

Additionally, the Chicago Ave reroute for the #66 and #8 buses have been altered to avoid Kingsbury St. The buses will now travel southbound on Wells St instead of Kingsbury. Please see the graphic below for a before and after of this reroute alteration. These changes have already been implemented.

Several residents have reported the lack of CTA bus service for morning commuters from Navy Pier. After Alderman Reilly raised these concerns with the CTA, and the CTA has agreed to add an additional departure time for the #124 bus from Navy Pier. Currently, the first westbound #124 bus departs Navy Pier at 8:28am. Starting December 21, the first bus will depart at 8:08am. Alderman Reilly knows this change will better accommodate residents living and working in the 42nd Ward.

For more route and timing information, please see the graphic below.

Alderman Reilly Attends Town Hall

on Retail Theft

Yesterday, Alderman Reilly attended a town hall hosted by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to field questions on retail theft downtown. The Alderman spoke about the importance of the partnership between the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Chicago Police Department. Alderman Reilly applauded the downtown police districts and local businesses for their collaboration in fighting retail theft. To view the Alderman’s remarks at the town hall, please click here.

Free Smoke Alarms for 42nd Ward Residents

Stop by our office in City Hall, Room 200 at 121 N. LaSalle Street for a free smoke detector! Most fires occur at night when people are sleeping. A smoke detector can alert you when there is a fire, in time to save your life.

Below are some tips to ensure your smoke detector is properly installed and working correctly:

Routinely test your detector correctly
When a smoke detector sounds, get outside and call 911
Install smoke detectors within 15 feet of any sleeping room and every level of your house
Replace your smoke detector every 10 years. Write the install date on the unit
Don't forget to install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor as well
Any questions on smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors, call the Chicago Fire Department Public Education Division at (312) 747-6691

A special thank you to the Chicago Fire Department for the smoke detectors. Smoke detectors can be picked up from the 42nd Ward Office between the hours of 9am-4pm, Monday through Friday in City Hall, Room 200.

To coordinate picking up a smoke alarm, please call us at (312) 744-3062 or send us a note via email (office@ward42chicago.com).

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS.018District@chicagopolice.org)

Beat 1824 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, November 13 at 6pm at 1201 N Clark St
Beat 1831 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18 at 5pm at 510 N LaSalle St
Beat 1832 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18 at 6pm at 510 N LaSalle St
Beat 1833 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20 at 5pm at 303 E Superior St
Beat 1834 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20 at 6pm at 303 E Superior St

1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS.001District@chicagopolice.org)

Beat 121 CAPS meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 12 at 26 S Clinton St

To find your appropriate beat to attend your CAPS meeting, please click here.

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Crane Lifts:

205 W Superior

On November 10-14, a partial road closure will be in effect for a crane lift at 205 W Superior. Closures will only be between the hours of 7am and 5pm. Parking on the north side of Superior St near Wells St will be prohibited and traffic will be redirected.

401 E Wacker Dr Partial Lane Closures

Starting November 10, partial lane closures will be in place to repair pavers in front of the St. Regis building at 401 E Wacker Dr. The full lane of pavers will be replaced, but closures will be done in segments to maintain the flow of traffic. The work is scheduled to be completed by Friday, November 21.

New Rules for Buses and Trucks on Clark St Bridge

Based on recent findings by the Department of Transportation, all buses and trucks will be directed to the outside lanes of the Clark Street Bridge over the Chicago River. These adjustments will not affect other vehicles. This change should help alleviate congestion on Clark Street. Message boards have been placed on the north side of the river to inform drivers of this change.

This change is part of a wider plan to alleviate vehicular traffic downtown during several CDOT construction projects.

Bridge Construction Updates

As reported in a past Reilly Report, construction continues on several downtown bridges, and Alderman Reilly has expressed his frustration with CDOT for a lack of coordination and planning. Traffic aides have been placed on Kingsbury at Chicago, Grand, and Erie to ease congestion. Stay tuned for future updates regarding traffic aides, detours, and closures.

The State Street Bridge project is estimated to be completed by the beginning of 2026, the approximate completion date for the Chicago Avenue Bridge is January 2027, and the Lake Street Bridge will be completed by the end of February 2028.

Lake Street Bascule Bridge Construction Update

Full closures are in place currently. During this work, CTA Green and Pink lines will operate normally, except for two 12-day planned closures in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The work on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge is expected to be completed in January 2028.

State / Lake CTA Station Upgrade

CDOT and CTA continue work to transform the 108-year-old CTA train station at State & Lake. The work will affect the CTA bus routes listed here. Lake St has been reduced to one lane at the site, and State St has been reduced to one lane in each direction between Wacker Dr and Randolph St. The new station is expected to be finished in 2029.

114 E Oak Façade Work

A partial sidewalk closure is in place for construction on the façade at 114 E Oak. 8 feet of sidewalk clearance will be maintained, and the barricades around the construction site will be removed by February 2026.

830 N Michigan Façade Work

Contractors are completing work on the façade at 830 N Michigan Ave. A temporary sidewalk closure is in place until early December. The façade is fully enclosed with a temporary wall, allowing a portion of the sidewalk in front of 830 N Michigan to remain open to pedestrians.

River North Lighting Project

The CDOT River North Lighting Project is complete. CDOT has installed new light poles in the area bounded by Chicago, Ontario, Orleans, and the river. Click here to watch Alderman Reilly's comments to CDOT's Acting Commissioner about the problems caused by this recently completed project.