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Outbound Kennedy Expressway Ramp Closures Begin May 19

More closures are expected to take place this month as part of the ongoing construction on the Kennedy Expressway, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.

The following ramps are scheduled to close:

Monday, May 19

• Ogden Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in approximately one week. ​ ​

Wednesday, May 21

• Outbound Kennedy to Division Street, anticipated to reopen in approximately one week. ​ ​

Monday, May 26

• Outbound Kennedy to Ohio Street, anticipated to reopen in approximately one week. ​ ​

Wednesday, May 28

• Keeler Avenue to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks. ​ ​

IDOT officials say the ramp closures are necessary to safely complete repairs and pavement patching. Motorists should follow the posted detours, according to IDOT.

The ramp closures are part of a three-year construction project to rehab the I-90/I-94 Kennedy Expressway from the Edens junction to Ohio Street. This year, with construction work focused on the outbound lanes, marks the third and final phase of the Kennedy project.

Additional ramp closures are expected and will be announced at a later date, according to IDOT.

For the duration of this final phase, the reversible express lanes will remain in the outbound direction, with two local outbound lanes closed at a time.

Until around mid-July, the mid-gate entrance and exit on the reversible express lanes will be closed, meaning that motorists in the express lanes won’t be able to exit until the Edens Expressway at Foster Avenue. Motorists going to O’Hare from downtown should stay on the local outbound Kennedy lanes and avoid entering the express lanes.

Kennedy construction is expected to be completed around Thanksgiving, according to IDOT.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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