Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Chicago drivers should expect a concentrated overnight slowdown on the Bishop Ford, continuing Grant Park restrictions and active work zones near O’Hare and the northwest suburbs. Conditions can change with weather, so follow posted signs and leave extra space around crews.

DOWNTOWN / LOOP

• Grant Park setup: Balbo Drive remains closed from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive through 3 p.m. Friday, October 16. This is a specific segment closure, not a full downtown shutdown. Use Roosevelt Road or Randolph Street for east-west movement and avoid entering the park-side grid unless your destination is nearby.

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS AND EXPRESSWAYS

• Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94): Beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday, outbound lanes will close in stages between Dolton Avenue and 159th Street while IDOT changes the traffic pattern. At least one outbound lane will remain open, and all temporarily closed lanes are scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m. Thursday. Heavy congestion is expected; use I-57 or another suitable route if your trip allows.

• 159th Street at I-94: Traffic is reduced from two lanes to one in each direction between Woodland Avenue and Van Dam Road for bridge rehabilitation. The eastbound 159th Street ramp to inbound I-94 is closed; the posted detour uses Torrence Avenue and Sibley Boulevard. This long-term stage is expected to continue through late 2027.

AIRPORT AND NORTHWEST APPROACHES

• I-294 near Balmoral Avenue, Lawrence Avenue and Irving Park Road: Bridge repairs continue over the railroad and local streets. The Tollway has announced new overnight ramp and lane restrictions beginning Thursday evening; Wednesday drivers should watch for advance-message signs and changing shoulders. The notice does not identify a full daytime mainline closure.

• Touhy Avenue corridor near O’Hare: Reconstruction continues between Elmhurst Road and Mt. Prospect Road, including work on Elmhurst Road, Old Higgins Road and the future I-490 connection. Expect shifted lanes and construction vehicles near airport approaches. For ORD trips, add time before reaching the terminals and avoid relying on a last-minute shortcut through the work zone.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

IDOT Bishop Ford update: https://illinois-department-of-transportation.prezly.com/bishop-ford-159th-street-bridge-rehab-outbound-lane-changes-begin-this-week (opens in a new tab)

Illinois Tollway news releases: https://agency.illinoistollway.com/media-center/news-releases (opens in a new tab)

Cook County Touhy Avenue project: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/content/touhy-avenue-reconstruction-elmhurst-road-mt-prospect-road (opens in a new tab)

Chicago Marathon street closures: https://www.chicagomarathon.com/event-info/participant-information/course/street-closures/ (opens in a new tab)