Local
Tower 18 repairs will reroute four CTA lines and close Loop ‘L’ service through early Monday
CTA trains on the Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines will not run through the Loop from 4 a.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Monday as crews maintain the Tower 18 junction. Riders will need to use altered routes, shuttle buses or other rail lines to get downtown.
Chicago Transit Authority riders should expect major changes to Loop train service this weekend while crews perform track maintenance at Tower 18, the rail junction at Lake and Wells streets.
From 4 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, through 2 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, elevated trains on the Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines will not operate in the Loop, the CTA said. Eleven stations will be affected.
The agency says Tower 18 is one of the nation’s busiest rail interlockings and requires this kind of maintenance about once every decade.
Service changes vary by line:
- Pink Line trains will end at the Racine Blue Line station rather than continue into the Loop. Riders can transfer to the Blue Line for downtown service. - Brown Line trains will run only between Kimball and Merchandise Mart. The CTA recommends the Red Line as an alternative for downtown trips; shuttle buses will also stop near Loop stations. - Orange Line trains will run between Midway Airport and Roosevelt, with shuttle buses replacing service between Roosevelt and Clinton. - Green Line trains will run between Harlem/Lake and Clinton, and separately between Roosevelt and the line’s South Side terminus. Shuttle buses will replace trains between Clinton and Roosevelt.
The work will affect riders traveling to and through downtown throughout the weekend. Passengers should allow extra time and check the CTA for service updates and shuttle information before setting out.