By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Chicago Transit Authority announced Tuesday that it will close all elevated tracks in the Loop this weekend to complete repairs at the Wells and Lake junction, one of the busiest rail interlockings in the nation.
The closure will run from 4 a.m. Saturday through 4 a.m. Monday, temporarily disrupting Brown, Green, Orange and Pink Line service through downtown, according to a CTA press release.
The Wells and Lake junction supports all rail service on the elevated track infrastructure in the Loop. The CTA said the interlocking requires significant maintenance every 10 years to support safe, reliable service and reduce the risk of future disruptions.
The weekend work is a continuation of maintenance that began in fall 2025 with a similar closure to revitalize two quadrants of the junction. The CTA is taking advantage of the ongoing Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Lake Street Bridge replacement to repair the remaining two quadrants, the press release said.
During the closure, Brown Line trains will operate between Kimball and Merchandise Mart. Riders heading downtown can connect to Red Line trains at Belmont and Fullerton stations. Shuttle buses will also run between Merchandise Mart and Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren.
Orange Line trains will operate between Midway and Roosevelt, with shuttle buses connecting Roosevelt and Clinton. Green Line trains will run between Harlem/Lake and Clinton and separately between Roosevelt and the South Side terminals. Shuttle buses will replace service between Clinton and Roosevelt.
Pink Line trains will continue to operate between 54th/Cermak and the Racine Blue Line station. Riders heading downtown can transfer to the Blue Line at Racine.
The CTA said it will use signs at affected stations, customer alerts and train announcements to help passengers navigate the changes.
The agency is also dealing with the Lake Street Bridge closure by CDOT, which has already altered Green and Pink Line service since Oct. 13. The weekend service plan will differ from the plan in effect during the first phase of bridge work because of the full Loop elevated closure, the CTA said.
The bridge project involves replacing the west leaf of the Lake Street Bridge over the Chicago River, along with related rail work. That project began Oct. 13 and has required its own set of service changes for Green and Pink Line riders.
The junction work and bridge replacement are part of a broader pattern of infrastructure investment across the CTA system. The agency has removed more than 10,000 feet of slow zones on the Red, Green and Yellow lines, and its Red Line Extension project recently opened a new community office in Roseland, according to CTA press releases from earlier this month.
Customers should plan ahead and allow additional travel time this weekend, the CTA said.
Regular service is scheduled to resume at 4 a.m. Monday following completion of the work and required testing.
Source: CTA Press Releases
