Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Thursday, September 17, 2026

Thursday drivers should expect continuing construction on several Chicago streets and major expressway work zones. These updates were checked Wednesday evening against current official agency notices.

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

• Southbound Halsted Street, 51st to 55th streets: Construction is rerouting CTA #8 buses through 10 a.m. Thursday, September 17. CTA does not confirm a full closure for regular vehicles, but morning delays are possible. Use Morgan Street or another north-south route if traffic backs up.

• 111th Street, Talman Avenue to Rockwell Street: Construction is rerouting CTA #112 buses in both directions through 7 p.m. September 30, or completion. The agency alert does not confirm a full street closure. Consider 115th Street and allow extra time.

• Northbound Jeffery Boulevard, 73rd to 75th streets: Construction is rerouting #J14, #15 and #N5 buses through 8 p.m. October 26. No full closure for general traffic is confirmed. Expect slower travel and consider Stony Island Avenue.

MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND EXPRESSWAYS

• Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), outbound: Two main outbound lanes remain closed while the reversible lanes operate outbound. Traffic shifts left between Division and Addison. Closed ramps include Fullerton to outbound Kennedy; outbound Kennedy to Addison, Augusta/Milwaukee and Damen; and Kimball to outbound Kennedy. Reopenings are expected from late September through late October. Allow extra rush-hour time and follow posted detours.

• Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294), I-55 to North Avenue: Traffic shifts and counterflow lanes remain through 2026. Southbound counterflow runs from St. Charles Road to the Cermak Toll Plaza; northbound counterflow continues toward North Avenue. Choose your lane early and avoid sudden changes.

CHICAGOLAND SUBURBS

• I-88/I-290/I-294 interchange near Oak Brook, Elmhurst and Hillside: Eastbound I-88 is subject to nightly full closures from Spring Road to I-290, and the eastbound I-88 ramp to northbound I-294 also closes nightly. Exact hours appear in the Tollway’s daily alert. Westbound I-290 ramps to both directions of I-294 remain closed long term. Follow posted detours.

• North suburban I-94/I-294: Deerfield Road over I-94 and Sanders Road over I-294 remain one lane each direction through fall. Touhy and Dempster may be reduced to one lane each way from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. as needed through September. Allow extra midday time.

Official sources:

CTA weekday changes: https://www.transitchicago.com/weekday/ (opens in a new tab)

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)

Illinois Tollway interchange: https://agency.illinoistollway.com/outreach/projects-in-your-community/central-tri-state-tollway-i-294/290-88-interchange-project (opens in a new tab)

Illinois Tollway I-294 repairs: https://agency.illinoistollway.com/projects/tri-state/roadway-and-bridge-repairs (opens in a new tab)