Lane Closures Begin On Cicero Avenue Near Midway Airport

CHICAGO, IL – If you’re flying out of Midway International Airport or work or go to school near there, you may want to allow yourself extra time to make your flight or consider an alternate route. Beginning the evening of Jan. 15, one lane of traffic will be closed in each direction on south Cicero Avenue next to the airport between west 56th Street and west 61st Street. The closures will reduce Cicero Avenue from a total of six lanes to four lanes for about a quarter of a mile with access for local traffic maintained with two lanes open in both directions.

The lane reductions will be in place through early 2020 to accommodate construction that will widen the Midway terminal pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue as part of the Midway Modernization Program. Motorists traveling north and southbound in the area are encouraged to consider alternate routes to avoid traffic on Cicero Avenue, including:

• Pulaski Road to the east, or Central Avenue or Harlem Avenue to the west in the area of Midway International Airport.
• Access to Midway’s terminal arrival and departure roadways and main terminal parking garage will be maintained at all times during construction. Midway airport travelers and employees are encouraged to use the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Orange Line or Economy Parking garage/lots to avoid traffic on Cicero Avenue.
• In addition to using alternate routes to reach the airport, Midway passengers and employees should allow extra travel time.

The Chicago Department of Aviation is coordinating closely with the Chicago Department of Transportation and other city and state agencies to oversee a phased approach to construction on the bridge expansion project. This approach will minimize the effects of changing traffic patterns to the surrounding community and will ensure two lanes on either direction remain open at all times. City of Chicago traffic management staff will be added to guide traffic during peak times and message boards will be staged in advance of work areas to alert drivers of traffic pattern changes.

For the week of Jan. 15 and continuing for the next two weeks, nightly lane closures will occur on the outermost (west) lane of southbound Cicero Avenue for approximately 500 feet in the immediate vicinity of Midway. The lane closure will be in effect from 9:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. as crews work to construct an additional roadway surface for vehicle traffic in advance of upcoming traffic pattern changes.

Information and updates on traffic changes will be posted to Midway Modernization and the Midway International Airport website throughout the project. Traffic updates are also available on Midway’s ParkNet Radio Station (1630 AM) within one-mile radius of airport. The CDA has developed a flier detailing traffic changes with maps and travel tips for residents in and around the Midway community.

Image via Chicago Department of Transportation