Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Friday, September 25, 2026

Friday drivers should plan around continuing work in the Loop, Chicago neighborhoods, the Kennedy Expressway and suburban Tollway corridors. Conditions are weather dependent, so watch electronic signs and allow extra time.

DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

• Southbound State Street, Wacker Drive to Randolph Street: CTA continues to list this block as closed with no reopening time. Expect a diversion at the north end of the Loop and switch to another southbound street before reaching Wacker.

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

• Northbound Jeffery Boulevard, 73rd to 75th streets: Construction is rerouting the J14, 15 and N5 buses through October 26 at 8 p.m. The notice confirms a transit reroute but does not state that the road is fully closed to regular vehicles. Slow down and follow work-zone signs.

• 47th Street near Damen and Ashland: The #47 bus remains rerouted in both directions via 51st Street through November 11 at 7 p.m. CTA does not identify a full street closure. Check local signs before using 47th through this corridor.

HIGHWAYS AND AIRPORT APPROACHES

• Outbound Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), Division Street to Addison Street: Two main outbound lanes remain closed at a time during Stage 2, while the outbound reversible express lanes remain open. Current ramp closures include outbound exits to Augusta/Milwaukee, Addison and Damen, plus the Fullerton and Kimball entrance ramps. Follow posted detours and move into the express lanes early if appropriate.

• O’Hare North Toll Plaza on I-294: Traffic shifts remain in place and shoulders are unavailable during construction into 2026. Airport-bound drivers should leave extra recovery time and avoid stopping in the work zone.

SUBURBS

• Franklin Avenue/Green Street, York Road to Runge Street: Traffic remains shifted to the westbound side, with one lane maintained in each direction through year-end. Expect slower travel through Bensenville and Franklin Park.

• Deerfield Road over I-94 and Sanders Road over I-294: Both bridges are reduced to one lane per direction through fall. The Techny Road left turn to Sanders Road is closed with a posted detour. Touhy and Dempster may also be reduced to one lane per direction from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. as needed through September.

Official sources: CTA bus alerts https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/bus-status/ (opens in a new tab) ; IDOT Kennedy project https://idot.illinois.gov/programs-and-projects/featured-projects/cook-county---interstate-90-kennedy-bridge-study.html (opens in a new tab) ; Tollway plaza repairs https://agency.illinoistollway.com/systemwide/toll-plaza-repairs (opens in a new tab) ; Franklin Avenue project https://agency.illinoistollway.com/i-490/franklin-avenue-interchange-project (opens in a new tab) ; Tri-State repairs https://agency.illinoistollway.com/projects/tri-state/roadway-and-bridge-repairs (opens in a new tab)