By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Normal CTA Green and Pink line service resumed at 4 a.m. Thursday after the Chicago Department of Transportation completed installation of the new west leaf of the Lake Street Bascule Bridge, a major milestone in the rehabilitation of the 110-year-old structure.
The completion ends days of service disruptions that forced commuters on both lines to navigate shuttle buses and alternate routes while crews worked on the bridge over the Chicago River.
The new, prefabricated west leaf was assembled off site and transported up the Chicago River by barge, according to a CTA news release issued Thursday. Crews removed the existing leaf, positioned and installed the replacement, rebuilt CTA tracks, ties and guard systems, reconnected power and signal systems, and ran test trains before regular service resumed.
The project originally called for work to wrap up by 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26. CDOT announced a two-day extension on Oct. 25, pushing the target to Wednesday, Oct. 28. When crews encountered further alignment and connection challenges, CDOT announced Monday that additional time was needed, with normal service expected “later this week.”
During the disruption, Green Line trains operated in two segments: between Harlem/Lake and Clinton and between Clark/Lake and South Side terminals. Bus shuttles carried passengers between Clinton and Clark/Lake stations. Pink Line trains ran between 54th/Cermak and the Racine Blue Line station, where riders could transfer to the Blue Line to reach downtown. Pink Line trains did not operate around the Loop elevated structure.
“CDOT thanks riders for their patience throughout the disruption as crews completed this critical bridge work,” the agency said in its Thursday release.
The CTA leveraged the planned service interruption to complete additional repairs at the Loop and Lake Junction over the weekend, according to the release.
Built in 1916, the Lake Street Bridge is a double-deck, double-leaf, movable bridge that accommodates river traffic. Its lower level carries vehicles, pedestrians and CTA buses. Its upper level carries Green and Pink line trains.
The two-year rehabilitation project aims to fully restore the structure so it can serve the city for generations while maintaining its historic character, according to CDOT.
The work is not finished. Installation of the bridge’s east leaf is planned for spring 2027, which will require similar disruptions to Green and Pink line service. CDOT and the CTA said they will share details about the timing and anticipated impacts as the work approaches.
The bridge’s lower level remains closed to vehicles and pedestrians while rehabilitation continues. The bridge is expected to fully reopen in January 2028, according to CDOT.
Riders who rely on the Green and Pink lines should monitor transitchicago.com for real-time service alerts. Additional updates on city bridge construction projects are available at Chicago.gov/CDOT.
