Jan. 25--Beginning Monday night, the Adams Street Bridge across the South Branch of the Chicago River will be closed to car and truck traffic for the next 13 months for major reconstruction.
Pedestrians will still be able to use the bridge, except for two 30-day periods later this year and some night and weekend closures, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.
The bridge has one of the highest pedestrian counts in the city, CDOT said. Many commuters use it to reach Union Station.
The work includes reconstruction of the deck over the Union Station tracks, improvements to the Adams and Canal intersection, new street lighting and traffic signals and improvements to the bascule bridge structure over the river, CDOT said in a release.
Westbound traffic will be detoured to Wacker, and CDOT said motorists can go south to Van Buren or north to Madison to cross the river. Once on the west side of the river, motorists can use Jefferson from Van Buren or Clinton from Madison to return to westbound Adams.
There will be two new pickup/drop-off areas for Union Station passengers on Jackson between Canal and Clinton, and Adams between Canal and Clinton.
The closure will affect the seven CTA bus routes downtown after evening rush hour Monday: the No. 1 Bronzeville/Union Station, No. 7 Harrison, No. 28 Stony Island, No. 121 Union/Streeterville Express, No.126 Jackson, No. 151 Sheridan and No. 156 LaSalle.
Most affected routes will be detoured from Adams to Van Buren via Wacker. Customers boarding and leaving buses near Union Station also will be affected.
