Milwaukee Avenue will remain closed at Kilbourn Avenue for the remainder of the year as part of Metra’s project to replace the bridge over the roadway and rebuild the Grayland Station.
Signs for the vehicular and bicycle detours will remain in place until the end of 2023. Due to concern for public safety, a full detour will continue instead of the phased lane closures originally planned. The full closure will also allow for construction to progress more quickly so the overall impact to residents can be shortened.
Southeast-bound vehicular traffic on Milwaukee Avenue is rerouted south on Cicero Avenue and east on Addison Street back to Milwaukee Avenue. Northwest-bound traffic is diverted west on Addison and north on Cicero to Milwaukee. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic are rerouted along Addison Street and Kilbourn Avenue, and protected bike lanes are in place on Addison during the closure.
Metra is in the middle of a $36.1 million project to replace the 123-year-old bridge that carries the Milwaukee District North Line over Milwaukee near Kilbourn. As part of this project, Grayland Station, just south of the bridge, is being rebuilt with longer platforms, new public address equipment, visual information signs, shelters with on-demand heat on each side, new lighting and new stairs and ramps, making it fully ADA-compliant.
The project is funded with $13.1 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $17.8 million from the Federal Railroad Administration, $2.3 million from Canadian Pacific, and $2.9 million in other Metra funding. IHC Construction Companies of Elgin is the contractor performing work, which is expected to be complete in the spring of 2024.
