A dress rehearsal will be staged on four busy Loop streets Tuesday–complete with a cast of thousands of drivers and pedestrians–to audition traffic changes the city plans for the upcoming construction project on Block 37.
Temporary closings of some traffic lanes and sidewalks are scheduled from 5 a.m. to
7 p.m. Tuesday on Washington, Randolph, Dearborn and State Streets around
Block 37, according to the Chicago Traffic Management Authority.
In addition, some CTA buses will be rerouted and subway entrances closed during the test.
It is a first-of-its-kind simulation of what travel conditions will be like for about 18 months once work begins in November to transform the long-vacant Block 37 site into a mixed-use development, officials said. The complex will house shops, restaurants, offices, a hotel, a residential tower and a CTA “super station” serving express trains to O’Hare and Midway.
“The simulation gives us an opportunity before any work gets under way to truly measure the traffic impacts of a major construction project that sits squarely in the central business district,” said Andrew Velasquez, executive director of the city Office of Emergency Management and Communications, which oversees the Traffic Management Authority.
The traffic authority will work with the Department of Planning and Development, the Police Department and other city agencies to make any necessary refinements to the traffic plan based on the results of Tuesday’s 14-hour dry run, Velasquez said.
The city encourages motorists, pedestrians and transit riders who usually pass through the Block 37 area to stick with their normal travel patterns Tuesday to help give officials an accurate picture, especially when the system is stressed during the morning and evening rush periods.
During Tuesday’s test, eastbound Washington will lose one lane of traffic, leaving three lanes between Dearborn and State, officials said. The sidewalk on the north side of Washington will be closed. Pedestrians will be directed to use the sidewalk on the south side of the street between Dearborn and State.
Westbound Randolph will be reduced by two lanes from State to Dearborn, leaving three travel lanes. Pedestrians will be directed to use the sidewalk on the north side of the street.
Northbound Dearborn will lose one lane, leaving three traffic lanes.
The sidewalk and entrances to the Blue Line on the east side of Dearborn between Washington and Randolph will be closed, transit officials said. Pedestrians and Blue Line customers will be directed to the west side of Dearborn.
“L” riders can use entrances on the west side of Dearborn and on both sides of the street south of Washington. Bus riders will be directed to bus stops at Madison Street and Randolph.
The pedestrian tunnel, or pedway, under Dearborn and State through Block 37 will remain open during the simulation.
State Street will operate with no lane closures. The center median will be used to maintain traffic lanes in each direction. Pedestrians will be able to use the existing sidewalk and entrances to the Red Line.
