Loop Link structural work along Madison Street, between Orleans and Wacker.
When sitting in your car or on your bus watching pedestrians zoom by, it can be difficult to accept a road construction project as being anything but a nuisance. But more often than not, we can see the intention of said nuisance and know it will be worth the temporary inconvenience when all is said and done.
Since March, Chicagoans have been watching the Loop Link project slow things down through the heart of the downtown business district. East-west corridors Washington and Madison Streets have both been choked by delays during morning and evening rush hours, but we’re starting to see the fruits of all this labor.
Before we show you some pictures of what’s been taking place and how far crews have progressed, here are a couple paragraphs from the brtchicago.com website that sum up the goal, and the impact, of the Loop Link:
The Loop Link is a modern transportation upgrade on Washington, Madison, Clinton and Canal Streets that will move more people downtown faster and with better reliability, while improving the connection between neighborhoods across the city to jobs and attractions in our Central Business District.
Two lanes of traffic will remain available on weekdays during business hours for the duration of the project. Periodically, there will be the need for further lane reductions overnight and on weekends. There will be no road closures or detours on Washington, Madison, Canal and Clinton Streets. However, Wabash will be closed between Washington and Madison starting in March for the construction of the new CTA ‘L’ station. In addition, Adams, which handles westbound traffic, is anticipated to be closed from Wacker to Canal starting in late summer for approximately one year for required bridge and viaduct work.
Make special note of that “Adams to be closed for one year” part. Oof.
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- Loop Link looking east on Washington Street
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- Looking back west on Washington Street
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- Early Loop Link work from the Washington & Wells L platform
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- Loop Link structural work along Madison Street
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- Part of the Loop Link structural work along Madison Street
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- Looking west on Madison
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- Renderings of the Loop Link can be found mounted to fencing along the work site.
