Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line trains will resume serving the cleaner, brighter and renewed Lawrence station on Friday. The station is the sixth of seven stations to undergo a six-week temporary closure as part of the Red Line North Interim Improvement project.
Stations along the north Red Line are some of the oldest on the system, with most being built in the early 1900s and in need of being rebuilt from the ground up. The interim repairs being performed under the project not only improve the quality and experience for riders and neighbors, they also provide a life-extension that will last for many years until a more comprehensive reconstruction plan is approved and fully funded.
Work requiring the closure of the Lawrence station will be complete by Friday night; however, crews are expected to continue addressing other project details in and around the station over the next several weeks. Customers will be able to access rail service while this work continues.
Once all work is complete, customers and neighbors can expect to see several enhancements to the Lawrence station including:
- Interior Station Improvements: reconfiguration of the station layout for improved circulation; new station floor finish, lighting and signage; replacement of the station ceiling and canopies over fare vending machines; added exit-only turnstile and luggage gate entrance/exit; and a new stainless steel exterior finish for the existing CA booth.
- Platform Improvements: new platform foundations, wooden decking, fixture and furnishings; and a refurbished canopy structure.
- Exterior Station Improvements: large-scale pigeon deterrence efforts throughout the station and adjacent viaducts; replacement of the chain-link fence with a wrought iron fence; new lighting; sidewalk repairs and new outdoor bike racks.
- Viaduct Repairs: repainting of the entire bridge structure; concrete repairs, painting and sealing/coating of the viaduct and upgraded lighting under the viaduct.
The work is part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Building a New Chicago program, which is updating infrastructure that's critical to the city and includes improvements that will help ensure that CTA continues to serve customers as effectively as possible.