Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Thursday, October 1, 2026

Drivers should expect continuing downtown restrictions, active neighborhood work zones and long-term expressway construction Thursday. Conditions can change, so follow posted traffic controls and check official alerts before departure.

• Downtown/Loop — Southbound State Street remains closed from Wacker Drive to Randolph Street, and no reopening time is listed. Expect congestion around the Chicago River and northern Loop; choose an alternate southbound street before Wacker.

• Logan Square and South Side — The westbound #73 Armitage reroute via Kedzie, Fullerton and Pulaski continues through October 5. Work affecting Jeffery Boulevard near 73rd–75th streets and 75th Street near Stony Island continues through October 26. CTA’s notices confirm bus reroutes, not full roadway closures; slow down and expect localized delays.

• Cermak Road — The #21 reroute near Michigan Avenue and 25th Street remains active through 7 p.m. Friday. The agency does not confirm a full closure for general traffic. Watch for buses changing lanes and consider an alternate east-west route.

• Far South Side — Southbound #52A and #53A buses are rerouted near 111th–115th streets through 8 p.m. Friday, using Kedzie, Pulaski and 111th Street before ending at Springfield/115th. CTA confirms a transit reroute, not a full street closure; watch for buses on alternate streets.

• Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) — Outbound rehabilitation remains in Stage 2, closing two mainline lanes at a time while the reversible express lanes operate outbound. The mid-gate is closed and traffic shifts left between Division and Addison. The outbound ramps to Augusta/Milwaukee and Damen remain closed under the posted project schedule. Merge early and allow extra time.

• O’Hare/I-294 — The O’Hare North Toll Plaza has traffic shifts and no shoulders into 2026. At the River Road Toll Plaza on I-90, one I-PASS lane is closed while two remain open. Approach slowly and avoid last-second lane changes.

• North and western suburbs — Deerfield Road over I-94 and Sanders Road over I-294 are reduced to one lane each direction through fall. Washington Street over I-88 in Naperville is also one lane each way. Expect queues at commute times and use parallel arterials if available.

Official sources: https://www.transitchicago.com/travel-information/bus-status/ (opens in a new tab) | https://idot.illinois.gov/programs-and-projects/featured-projects/cook-county---interstate-90-kennedy-bridge-study.html (opens in a new tab) | https://agency.illinoistollway.com/systemwide/toll-plaza-repairs (opens in a new tab) | https://agency.illinoistollway.com/projects/tri-state/roadway-and-bridge-repairs (opens in a new tab) | https://agency.illinoistollway.com/projects/reagan/roadway-bridge-and-ramp-repairs (opens in a new tab)