This one is sure to cause a bit of a traffic ruckus: starting today through, at least, mid-November, the State Street bridge in downtown Chicago will be closed for repairs, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.
Crews will be repairing viaducts on the 75-year-old bridge, also replacing "old floor beams" and "components on the central locks that help to allow the bridge to raise up and down for passing ships on the Chicago River," reports NBC Chicago.
According to the outlet, officials are hoping to complete the majority of the work this summer given various related projects that are set to kick off in 2026.
"We are being strategic in completing this work now before other major downtown infrastructure projects that are taking shape of 2026,” Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Carney said to NBC Chicago. “[That] includes the new State and Lake CTA station rebuild and the Lake Street bascule bridge reconstruction, both will have significant traffic impacts in 2026."
In terms of practicality, the shutdown will force northbound drivers to detour west to Wacker Drive, then north on Dearborn, east on Kinzie and back onto State Street. Southbound drivers will take Kinzie west to Clark, head south, turn east on Wacker and continue south on State. Pedestrians trying to cross the river will not have access to the bridge and are asked to use nearby streets for their detour.
We told you: traffic ruckus.
For what it's worth, officials noted the bridge was in dire need of fixing so we're happy the process is moving along.