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CHICAGO (WLS) — Beginning this Monday, the storied State and Lake platform of the CTA is entering a three-year closure.
This significant project is deemed overdue by officials. Although commuters are taken aback by the lengthy timeline, the Chicago Department of Transportation assures them that the results will justify the wait.
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One of Chicago’s most frequented CTA stations is now slated for closure until 2029, as the century-old platform in the Loop undergoes extensive renovations.
CTA users are expressing frustration over the anticipated duration of the construction.
“It seems a bit excessive, but hopefully, it will be worthwhile,” remarked CTA passenger Luke Goebel.
CTA riders coming through the Loop will now need to get off the train at Washington and Wabash or Clark and Lake.
“I’m glad,” said CTA rider April Siruno. “It’ll be worth the wait when everything is interconnected, that makes more sense.”
One of the main improvements that comes with this project is making it more accessible, especially for those with wheelchairs.
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“The station isn’t accessible to folks in wheelchairs, and we’re trying to make it accessible for all of our transit riders,” said CDOT Deputy Commissioner Anne Zhang.
Renderings of the project show the new modernized upgrades as the designers of the project say this will improve the platform from top to bottom.
“It is not an aesthetic upgrade. It’s not a superficial upgrade. It’s kind of open-heart surgery on a station. We’re going to be replacing almost the entire station,” said Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Partner Scott Duncan.
Some commuters say it will be nice to have a new platform while others say they would rather see the money for this project go to public safety across the CTA instead.
“They should have more security. If they got the money to upgrade this, why don’t they have the money for security? I heard they’re putting more security, but I haven’t seen it,” said CTA rider Chris Gonzalez.
Those concerns come as the CTA just launched its new security surge plan last month, putting more officers and K-9s on platforms across the city.
There will also certainly be some frustration for drivers coming through the area.
Starting Monday, Lake Street will only be open to local traffic between Dearborn and Wabash.
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