Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Thursday, September 24, 2026

Thursday’s verified road alert focuses on continuing work in the Loop, Chicago neighborhoods, the Kennedy Expressway and major suburban Tollway corridors. Conditions may change with weather; follow posted work-zone signs.

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 use 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 alert confirms a transit reroute but does not say the road is fully closed to regular vehicles. Allow extra time through South Shore.

• 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 entering the affected 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 through the Stage 2 work period, while outbound reversible express lanes remain open. Several outbound ramps are also closed, including exits to Augusta/Milwaukee, Addison and Damen, plus the Fullerton and Kimball entrance ramps. Follow posted detours and enter the express lanes early if your route allows.

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

SUBURBS

• Franklin Avenue/Green Street, York Road to Runge Street: Traffic is 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: Each bridge remains 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) ; Illinois 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)