CTA State and Lake Station Closes for 3 Years Starting Monday

URGENT UPDATE: Starting Monday, January 1, 2024, the CTA State and Lake station in Chicago will close for a massive, three-year demolition and reconstruction project. This critical infrastructure overhaul is poised to impact thousands of daily commuters in the Loop.

The State and Lake station, a hub with the fifth highest ridership across the Chicago Transit Authority, is set to undergo significant upgrades, including the installation of elevators for improved accessibility. Commuters are already expressing their concerns. “Big bummer,” said Elizabeth Rauckhorst, a daily user of the station. “It’s going to be an impact to me for sure.”

As part of the project, the station will be closed until 2029, with Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Line trains bypassing the station during this time. The upgrades aim to enhance safety and comfort for riders, addressing the current narrow platforms that leave commuters exposed to the elements. “If you see the station now, you see it has these very narrow platforms you can barely get by,” explained Scott Duncan, a partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

Anne Zhang, Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Transportation Division of Engineering, emphasized the necessity of the renovations, stating, “The station isn’t accessible to folks in wheelchairs, and we are trying to make it accessible for all our transit riders.” The project will also include a redesign of the platforms to provide better protection from harsh weather conditions.

Commuters are already strategizing alternative routes. Ben Axelrod, another regular user, noted, “I’ll probably just go to the Red Line. It’s going to be a little longer, like 10 minutes maybe, just with my walk. It’s going to be interesting.”

Additionally, Lake Street will be limited to local traffic only between Dearborn and Wabash, complicating access to nearby stations for those who rely on public transport. However, some commuters remain optimistic about the future. “It will be worth it in the end, I think,” said Samantha Calistri. “If you’ve seen the pictures of what it’s supposed to look like, it’s beautiful.”

As the work begins, authorities urge commuters to plan ahead and consider alternative transit options, as the station closure will significantly disrupt the daily flow of traffic in the area. The project underscores a broader commitment to modernizing Chicago’s transit infrastructure, but for now, the inconvenience will be felt across the Loop.

Stay tuned for further updates on the construction progress and its impact on local transit.