South Lake Shore Drive Traffic Changes Start Monday
Beginning Monday morning, July 8, motorists will see lane closures and reductions along South Lake Shore Drive from 23rd to 57th streets.
Between 23rd and 47th, there will be either two or three lanes in each direction. Between 47th and 57th, there will be two lanes in each direction. A unique movable barrier system will be used to create a third reversible lane between 23rd and 47th.
At various points along the Drive, traffic will shift between the northbound and southbound pavement. Signs and barriers will direct traffic.
The lane reductions and shifts will be in place through December of this year. The roadway changes are necessary as crews begin to reconstruct the decades-old pavement along South Lake Shore Drive.
This configuration will allow the most efficient flow of traffic during construction, CDOT officials said.
This mainline work will entail the bottom-up reconstruction of the southbound side of the Drive; rebuilding the 31st Street Bridge and ramps over Lake Shore Drive near McCormick Place; reconstruction of exit and entrance ramps at Oakwood Blvd., and the continued renovation of the exit ramps at Hyde Park Blvd. and 53rd Street. In addition, construction will commence on a new pedestrian underpass at 55th Street.
To alleviate congestion during peak travel times, South Lake Shore Drive motorists may want to consider a combination of South Side thoroughfares designated as alternate routes. These include: Martin Luther King Dr., Cottage Grove, Lake Park Ave., Stony Island Ave., Cornell Dr., South Chicago Ave., Pershing Rd., 47th St., Midway Plaisance, and 67th Street
As regional bypass options, drivers should consider using the Chicago Skyway (I-90) and the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94). Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes, use public transportation, or travel during off-peak times.
During construction, access to area museums, cultural sites, parks, beaches, hospitals and schools will be maintained. Expect limited street parking near the parks and along the alternate routes.
The City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration are investing $162 million in the South Lake Shore Drive Reconstruction Project, with much of the funding coming from the Illinois FIRST program.
