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Monroe Street Bridge over I-90/94

As part of the overall Jane Byrne (Circle) Interchange project, the Monroe Street Bridge over the Northbound and Southbound I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) will be reconstructed. The bridge will be closed to traffic in the Winter of 2018 and is anticipated to re-open in the Summer of 2019. 

The project consists of replacing the Monroe Street Bridge over Northbound and Southbound I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway).

The limits of work on Monroe Street extend from just east of Halsted Street to just the west of Des Plaines Street for approximately 725 feet. A retaining wall along the east side the Kennedy Expressway just south of Monroe Street will be constructed and an existing wall will be removed. The proposed new bridge is a part of the overall Jane Byrne (Circle) Interchange reconstruction and will create additional space underneath the bridge along I-90/94 necessary for the future proposed I-90/94 proposed mainline lanes, a Northbound I-90/94 proposed Collector-Distributor (CD) road and various entrance and exit ramps.  A portion of the existing Southbound Kennedy Expressway exit ramp to Monroe Street will also be improved.

Also included within the contract for the reconstruction of the Monroe Street Bridge are improvements to the existing combined sewer crossing the Eisenhower Expressway at Peoria Street. The existing 14 inch, 36 inch and 42 inch sewer pipes will be lined with a cured-in-place sewer lining in order to extend the life of the sewers and reduce the chance for leaks in the future that could cause issues to the expressway pavement.

Proposed Monroe Street features include:

  • Two lanes in the eastbound and westbound directions
  • Sidewalks on both sides of Monroe Street
  • Drainage and roadway lighting modifications

The closures and detours required to construct the project include:

  • Monroe Street will be closed between Halsted Street and Des Plaines Street with eastbound traffic detoured on Northbound Halsted Street to Eastbound Madison Street to Southbound Des Plaines Street to Monroe Street. Westbound traffic will be detoured on Southbound Des Plaines Street, to Adams Street to Halsted Street to Monroe Street.
  • The Southbound Monroe Street exit ramp to Eastbound Monroe Street will be closed for the duration of the project as the bridge will be closed.  Traffic will be routed to the Jackson Boulevard exit ramp and utilize Jefferson Street north back to Monroe Street.
  • The Southbound Adams Street exit ramp will be closed for a portion of the project. Traffic will be detoured to the Monroe Street exit ramp west to Halsted Street to Adams Street.
  • The Southbound Monroe Street exit ramp to Westbound Monroe Street will be closed for a portion of the project.  Traffic will be detoured to the Adams Street exit ramp west to Halsted Street to Monroe Street.
  • The Southbound Madison Street entrance ramp will be closed for up to 60 days.  Eastbound traffic will be detoured north on Halsted Street to the Lake Street entrance ramp.  Westbound Madison Street traffic will be detoured on Jefferson Street to the Randolph Street entrance ramp.
  • The Northbound Madison Street exit ramp will be closed for a portion of the project.  Traffic will be detoured to Washington Boulevard for eastbound traffic and to Randolph Street for westbound traffic accessing Madison Street via Des Plaines Street or Halsted Street.
  • The Northbound Jackson entrance ramp will be closed for up to 90 days.  Traffic will be detoured to Jefferson Street to Adams Street to the Adams Street entrance ramp.

Lane closures, changes in traffic patterns, reductions in the speed limit and the presence of workers and equipment create an environment that demands drivers refrain from behavior that could create a distraction. The rules are very simple: See orange. Slow down. Save lives.