By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Chicago Transit Authority issued a construction notice Thursday for sidewalk closures related to track and column work at 115th Street on the city’s Far South Side, part of the long-awaited Red Line Extension project.
The work will take place on West 115th Street from South Lafayette Avenue to South Perry Avenue, according to the CTA notice posted Oct. 16. Sidewalk closures will alternate between the north and south sides of 115th Street during construction.
The Red Line Extension is one of the largest transit infrastructure investments in Chicago’s history. The project will extend the Red Line from its current southern terminus at 95th Street approximately 5.6 miles south, bringing rail service to neighborhoods that have waited decades for direct access to the CTA’s busiest rail line.
The project includes four new stations planned for 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street. When complete, it will connect Far South Side communities to jobs, schools and health care across the region.
Construction activity along the corridor has increased in recent months. In addition to the 115th Street work, the CTA posted notices this week for site preparation and tree removal at Wendell Smith Park near 9912 S. Princeton Ave., signaling the project’s expanding footprint.
The Red Line Extension has been in planning stages for more than a decade. The project received a boost in recent years through federal funding commitments and city capital dollars.
Residents near the construction zone may experience temporary pedestrian detours. The CTA advised that sidewalk closures will shift between sides of the street to maintain access during the work.
Further construction notices related to the Red Line Extension and other CTA projects are available on the agency’s website at transitchicago.com/news. Members of the media can contact the CTA’s Media Relations department at ctamedia@transitchicago.com or 312-681-3090.
Source: CTA
