Busy Milwaukee Avenue Stretch Finally Reopens After Nearly 2 Years Of Metra Construction (2024)

OLD IRVING PARK — A segment of Milwaukee Avenue on the Northwest Side has finally reopened after almost two years and multiple missed deadlines.

Milwaukee Avenue between Kilbourn and Kenneth avenues was closed in September 2022to speed up constructionon the Grayland Metra station, 3729 N. Kilbourn Ave.,and replace its 122-year-old railroad bridge. Construction on the bridge started in fall 2021.

The intersection was supposed to reopen in December 2022, but the opening was pushed backat least five times.

The intersection finally reopened Friday, Metra spokesperson Michael Gillis said.

Days earlier, Ald. Ruth Cruz (30th) called for a public hearing for Metra officials to explain the repeated construction delays. Cruz introduced the resolution for the hearing at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

The alderwoman still plans on holding a hearing, said Justin Heath, Cruz’s director of policy and zoning.

“We understand that things don’t always go as planned, but that’s what project managers are there for; they’re the ones that analyze the risk,” Cruz previously said. “When it’s been more than a year [behind schedule], it’s hard to be understanding.”

The most recent construction delay was caused by multiple “unforeseen ground obstructions,” including a utility pipe, concrete structures and an AT&T duct, Gillis said.

Far Northwest Side neighbors have complained for months about the noise and traffic caused by the project and its severely delayed timeline. Metra responded to residents’ frustrations by creating aproject websiteto provide construction updates.

“I heard it was going to be open Thanksgiving, then it was going to be Memorial Day, then the Fourth of July,” said Mary Peebles, a bartender at the Booze Hound bar next to the station.

Neighbors Kelly Larys lives less than two blocks from the Grayland station. There have been times when the construction caused his house to shake, he said.

The closure of Milwaukee Avenue forced Larys to take Irving Park Road to work, adding time and traffic to his commute. The closure also caused countless drivers to turn the wrong way onto Kilbourn Avenue, which is one way, Larys said.

“I was ecstatic when I heard it was open,” Larys said.

The sidewalk on one side of Milwaukee Avenue was still closed as of Monday afternoon to finish additional striping, Gillis said.

The Grayland station isbeing rebuiltwith longer platforms, new public address equipment,visual information signs,shelters with on-demand heat on each side, lighting, and stairs and ramps to make it fully ADA-compliant.

Crews finished the new rail bridge in March, according to the project website. Metra had to erect a temporary bridge to keep trains running while the new bridge was built. Tracks were moved from the temporary bridge to the new bridge in April, and demolition of the temporary bridge was completed June 6, Gillis said.

The new bridge is expected to improve train reliability by reducing delays from slow zones and track closures or trains canceled due to maintenance and repair work on the previous bridge, officials have said.

The street, sidewalks and bike lanes that run under the bridge area were rebuilt.

The new station platforms are expected to open in the spring, Gillis said. There may be some daily lane closures during that constructions, but there won’t be anymore full street closures, Gillis said.

The area will likely see more foot traffic once the new station opens, Peebles said. The Booze Hound used to be a popular spot for Cubs and Bears fans who took the Metra to games, she said.

The $38 million project is being funded with $15 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $17.8 million from the Federal Railroad Administration, $2.3 million from Canadian Pacific and $2.9 million from Metra.

Metra is working with Elgin-basedIHC Construction Companies on the project.

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