10/19/06
CTA officials gathered today at the Washington station on the Red Line to announce that this coming Monday, October 23, the station and the pedestrian transfer tunnel between the Red and Blue Lines will temporarily close for construction. The Washington/Madison mezzanine used to access the station and its four street-level entrances also will close. During construction over the next two years, customers will have access to the State Street subway using the Lake station one block north of Washington or the Monroe station one block south of Washington. The construction work will result in a tunnel connecting the Red and Blue Line subway tracks which will help improve rail service for customers by increasing options to coordinate train traffic in both subway systems.
Red Line trains will continue normal operation through the State Street subway with the exception of bypassing the Washington station. Trains will continue to stop at the North/Clybourn, Clark/Division, Chicago, Grand, Lake, Monroe, Jackson, Harrison and Roosevelt subway stations. Customers will continue to have access to free transfers between the Red and Blue Lines via the pedestrian transfer tunnel at Jackson station, just south of Washington.
"Red Line service will continue in the State Street subway throughout construction and we will work to minimize the impact for our customers," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. ?Adding this connection between the two subway lines will give us more flexibility and more service options."
Construction crews will build two short connecting tunnels and tracks that will link the existing Red and Blue Line subway tunnels and the new transit station planned for 108 N. State Street, commonly referred to as Block 37. Work also includes: modifications to the fare control areas in the Red Line subway at Randolph/Washington, Washington/Madison, Madison/Monroe and Monroe/Adams; modification of the platforms north of Washington inside the Red and Blue Line subways to connect them to the new transit station; and replacement of approximately 4,000 rail ties in both subway tunnels.
Construction work affecting rail service will be scheduled for non-rush periods. only. As construction schedules are finalized, CTA will provide service information to customers in advance via Customer Alerts posted at stations and on trains, through press releases and on the CTA web site at transitchicago.com.
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