Chicago Transit Authority commuters face significant service disruptions starting Tuesday morning as major construction work begins on the 110-year-old Lake Street Bridge over the Chicago River. The temporary alterations to the Green and Pink lines will remain in effect until 4 a.m. on October 26, impacting thousands of daily downtown travelers.
Green Line Service Split and Shuttle Bus Details
During the nearly two-week construction window, the Green Line will operate in two separate sections instead of its standard continuous route. The western portion of the line will terminate at the Clinton station, preventing trains from crossing the river into the downtown Loop.
To bridge the gap, the CTA has established free shuttle bus connections between the Clinton and Clark/Lake stations. Officials note that the two stations are about a 12-minute walk apart for riders who prefer walking.
Meanwhile, the Green Line’s southern branch will continue running into the Loop. Instead of its normal routing, trains will wind around the Loop stations in a clockwise direction-utilizing the Orange Line route-before heading back south toward Ashland/63rd and Cottage Grove.
Pink Line Reroutes and Alternative Transit Options
Pink Line train operations will see substantial changes during the Lake Street Bridge project. Pink Line trains will not run through the Loop at all while the work takes place.
Instead, inbound Pink Line trains will terminate at the Racine station. Commuters arriving at Racine can transfer to the CTA Blue Line to continue their journeys downtown.
For riders traveling to and from the Ashland, Morgan, and Clinton stations specifically, the transit authority strongly recommends using the 9 Ashland or X9 Ashland buses as alternative options to navigate the impacted corridor.
Long-Term Context of the Lake Street Bridge Project
The current rail service outage is part of a larger, multi-year infrastructure overhaul. The Lake Street Bridge has already been closed to vehicle traffic and pedestrians for just over a year as part of a comprehensive reconstruction project.
City officials estimate that the broader bridge renovation project will continue through January 2028. Additionally, the CTA has warned passengers that another two-week service outage for both the Green and Pink lines is planned for the spring as construction milestones progress.
Riders are encouraged to check the official CTA website or mobile applications for real-time tracking, updated schedules, and specific transfer assistance before starting their daily commutes.
