Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Monday, September 14, 2026
Afzaal Zeb ·
Monday drivers should plan for continuing construction and traffic shifts on Chicago streets and major expressways. These items were verified Sunday evening from current CTA, IDOT and Illinois Tollway notices.
Chicago neighborhoods
Lincoln Square — Lincoln, Western and Foster: CTA’s #11 and #49B reroutes remain scheduled until 3 p.m. Monday, or completion, following the German-American Festival. The alert indicates a local disruption but does not confirm a full street closure. Expect residual congestion and use Lawrence or Damen if delays continue.
South Shore — Jeffery Boulevard, 73rd to 74th streets: Construction is rerouting the #J14, #15 and #N5 through 8 p.m. September 21. CTA does not confirm a full closure to regular vehicles, but drivers should expect work-zone delays. Consider Stony Island Avenue and allow extra time.
Major highways and expressways
Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), outbound: Two main outbound lanes remain closed at a time, while the reversible express lanes stay open outbound. Traffic shifts left between Division and Addison. Ramps at Fullerton, Addison and Kimball are expected to reopen in late September; Augusta/Milwaukee in mid-October and Damen in late October. Expect heavy peak-period backups and enter the express lanes before the closed mid-gate.
I-294, I-55 to North Avenue: Traffic shifts and lane closures continue, including southbound counterflow from St. Charles Road to the Cermak Toll Plaza and northbound counterflow from St. Charles Road to North Avenue. This pattern is scheduled through 2026. Stay in lane early and avoid last-second merges.
Nearby and farther suburbs
I-290/I-294 interchange near Elmhurst and Hillside: Both ramps from westbound I-290 to I-294 remain closed—southbound through 2026 and northbound through 2027. Butterfield Road is also one lane each way under I-294 between Calvin Avenue and I-290 through year-end. Follow posted detours and avoid relying on old GPS routing.
North suburban I-94/I-294 corridor: Deerfield Road over I-94 and Sanders Road over I-294 are reduced to one lane each direction through fall. Touhy and Dempster may also drop to one lane each way from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. as needed through September. Build in extra midday travel time.
