Chicago's elevated Loop rail service will shut down from 4 a.m. Saturday, October 24, until 4 a.m. Monday, October 26, 2026, as crews work at the Loop and Lake junction, the Chicago Transit Authority said. The underground Red and Blue lines will continue running normally.
Source: Chicago Focal / Focal News
The work is tied to the Chicago Department of Transportation's Lake Street Bridge replacement project and to work at the Loop and Lake junction — at Wells and Lake, described by the CTA as the largest elevated rail interlocking in its system, supporting all elevated service in the Loop.
Source: Secret Chicago, citing CTA
CTA advises allowing extra travel time. Shuttle buses will cover several gaps, signage and platform announcements will be in place, and regular elevated service is scheduled to resume at 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26.
How each line will run
Green Line trains will run between Harlem/Lake and Clinton, and separately between Roosevelt and the South Side terminals, with shuttle buses connecting Clinton and Roosevelt; South Side riders can also transfer to the Red Line at Roosevelt. Brown Line trains will operate between Kimball and Merchandise Mart, with shuttle buses from Merchandise Mart to Harold Washington Library–State/Van Buren and Red Line connections at Belmont and Fullerton.
Source: Chicago Focal / Focal News
Orange Line trains will run between Midway and Roosevelt, with shuttle buses connecting Roosevelt and Clinton. Pink Line trains will run between 54th/Cermak and the Racine Blue Line station, but not around the Loop; riders can transfer to the Blue Line at Racine.
Source: Secret Chicago, citing CTA
Part of a longer bridge project
The weekend shutdown follows weeks of Green and Pink line disruptions between Clinton and Clark/Lake that began Oct. 12 for the Lake Street Bridge work; that phase is scheduled to end Friday, before the broader Loop shutdown begins, according to Focal News reporting on the CTA announcement. Full CTA alert details are posted by the agency.
Source: CTA service alert