CTA Announces $19.6M Project to Reconstruct the Bus Bridge

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced upcoming project work that will result in some immediate and minor changes in bus service and access to the Park & Ride facility, as well as an entrance to the Harlem Blue Line station along the O’Hare Branch.

Additional service impacts are expected over the course of the year-long project.

Beginning Feb. 19 at 7 a.m. through early 2025, crews will work to demolish the more than 40-year-old Harlem Blue Line station bus bridge deck and reconstruct a new one in its place.

The steel and concrete elevated bus bridge spans the entire width of the Kennedy Expressway and serves as a bus boarding area featuring a five-lane bus bay with canopy, as well as a commuter drop-off area.

“As we’ve done for decades and across our system, a variety of maintenance functions have been performed over the years to maximize the longevity of this bus bridge, which is now beyond its useful life and requires full replacement,” said President Dorval R. Carter Jr. “As part of this year-long project, we are committed to minimizing impacts to our bus and rail riders as much as possible, while keeping to an aggressive construction timeline.”

What to Expect During Project Work

During this time, the west entrance to the Harlem rail station will be temporarily closed and the adjacent Park & Ride lot will be temporarily closed.

Those using the Park & Ride facility will be encouraged to use either the Cumberland or Rosemont CTA Park & Ride facilities. CTA bus routes #88 Higgins and #90 Harlem will be temporarily rerouted to make service stops along Harlem Avenue, while Pace suburban bus routes #209 and #423 will also undergo temporary rerouting.  

To allow crews to safely perform project work, CTA said it anticipates service impacts to be minimal and will include single track operations, as well as some temporary station closures during the overnight hours and/or on weekends, with a free bus shuttle provided as alternative service.

Additional details regarding these anticipated service impacts will be communicated to riders in advance to allow them to properly plan and/or adjust their travel plans.

The Harlem station was originally built in 1982-1983 as part of the CTA’s O’Hare Branch extension of the Blue Line. This $19.6M reconstruction project is funded by a mix of state and federal resources.