Express lanes on the Kennedy Expressway will reopen and resume normal operations by 5 a.m. Monday as the testing of a new reversible gate system nears completion, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
A sequenced removal of the work zone and barricades began Thursday night. IDOT said drivers should still expect temporary lane closures occasionally in the next few weeks and be careful as pavement markings are refreshed and any remaining miscellaneous work is completed.
The rehabilitation of the bridges and pavement in the two express lanes in the center of the Kennedy has also included technical work behind the scenes, according to IDOT, including the replacement of the entire Reversible Lane Access Control or REVLAC system, which controls the gates and whether traffic flows inbound or outbound.
Along 7.5 miles, REVLAC work included the installation of overhead signs and 120 gates, the integration of local and remote controls, the replacement of cameras, and the modernization of electrical components, fiber-optic cables, and terminal blocks. The Hubbard’s Cave street underpass under I-90 and I-94 in West Town was also painted and new LED lights were installed.
Estimates put the cost of construction on the inbound Kennedy and express lanes at a minimum of $71.5 million through Dec. 9, according to documents obtained by the Tribune through an open records request. That includes estimates of work performed by contractors Dunnet Bay Construction Company and Martam Construction. The project is also set to include work on the outbound lanes, scheduled to take place this spring. IDOT has put the total project price tag at $150 million.
Chicago Tribune’s Sarah Freishtat contributed.