Chicago Drivers Daily Road & Traffic Alert — Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Wednesday drivers should expect an overnight downtown bridge closure, neighborhood construction and major expressway work zones. These items were checked Tuesday evening against official agency notices.

DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

• DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge over the Chicago River: The bridge is fully closed from 10 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, until 5 a.m. Wednesday, September 16. Posted detours will redirect traffic; expect delays around Wacker and Columbus drives and avoid the crossing until after 5 a.m.

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

• 111th Street, Talman Avenue to Rockwell Street: Construction is rerouting CTA #112 buses in both directions through 7 p.m. September 30, or completion. CTA does not confirm a full closure for regular vehicles. Use 115th Street if traffic backs up.

• Northbound Jeffery Boulevard, 73rd to 75th streets: Construction is rerouting #J14, #15 and #N5 buses through 8 p.m. October 26. The alert does not confirm a full street closure. 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.

• 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.

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 its 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:

City of Chicago/CDOT: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bridge/news/2026/september/overnight-closures-of-dusable-lake-shore-drive-bridge-sept--10-a.html (opens in a new tab)

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)