CTA Viaduct Replacements Continue: CTA Purple Line Shuttles to Run and Dempster at Sherman Closed June 22-26
Starting this weekend, the Dempster and Grove Street viaducts will be replaced, with work beginning on Friday, June 22 and concluding on Tuesday, June 26. The new viaducts will tentatively be put into place sometime in the mid-afternoon on Saturday, June 23 between 4 :00 and 7:00 p.m.
Minuteman Press, located at 1553 Sherman Ave., has graciously agreed to host a City of Evanston camera in its building, which will allow residents to watch the Grove St. viaduct being hoisted into place. Resiedents can watch the process from the comfort of their own computer. Residents can access the video feed by going to: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/evanston-events. The viaduct is expected to be put into place from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, June 23.
Starting at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 22, the CTA will shut down the trains running between the Howard and Davis L stops. CTA buses will service this area until the CTA Purple Line resumes service at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, June 25. The shuttles will depart from the Howard and Davis stations approximately every 5-15 minutes and will operate during the same hours of operation as the Purple Line.
The $15.5 million Purple Line Viaduct project will reduce slow zones and improve travel time for Purple Line customers by replacing three aging viaducts along the line at Greenleaf, Dempster and Grove Streets in Evanston. The project will also result in new abutments, retaining walls and foundations, and new waterproofing and drainage systems. Other project work includes rail tie replacement, new landscaping and lighting enhancements under the bridges.
Funding for the project is provided by an Illinois Department of Transportation grant through the Regional Transportation Authority. Learn more about the CTA Purple Line project at www.cityofevanston.org/purpleline.
General Timeline
Friday, June 22
7:00 AM Dempster St. closes from Chicago Ave. to Sherman Ave.
Grove St. closes from Sherman Ave. to Elmwood Ave. Vehicles in Rotary International's parking lot will be allowed to enter the building until 12:30 PM and exit to the west on Grove St. until about 7:00 PM.
8:30 PM Purple Line shuts down from Howard to Davis, CTA Buses will service this section of CTA Line. Purple Line Shuttle Routes>>>
Saturday, June 23
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Dempster St. viaduct put into place
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Grove St. viaduct put into place
Sunday, June 24
Work continues at both sites
Monday, June 25
4:30 AM CTA Service on the Purple Line resumes
Work continues at both sites
7:00 AM Westbound traffic resumes on Grove St.
Tuesday, June 26
5:00 PM Dempster St. re-opens
CTA Interruptions of Service
The CTA Purple Line service will be shut down from Howard to Davis for the entirety of the weekend beginning the afternoon of Friday, June 22 until resuming service on Monday, June 25 by 4:30 AM. Additional CTA buses will service the train stations in the following manner.
Howard Red Line to north on Chicago Ave. - west on Davis St. - north on Oak Ave. - east on Church St. - south on Benson Ave. To travel south, buses will board on the east side of the Davis Purple Line Station - south on Benson Ave. - west on Davis St. - south on Oak Ave. - east on Lake St. - south on Chicago Ave. to Howard Red Line.
The CTA will make stops at South Blvd., Main St. and Dempster St. at the existing #205 bus stops.
In general, service will operate every 4-15 minutes throughout the day (20 minutes late at night), based on existing Purple Line demand.
Detours
Dempster Street (map here>>>)
- East Bound -Maple St. to Greenwood St. to Chicago Ave.
- West Bound – Chicago Ave. to Lake St. to Oak Ave.
Grove Street (map here>>>)
- East Bound – Elmwood Ave. to Lake St. to Sherman Ave.
- West Bound – Sherman Ave. to Davis St. to Maple Ave.
Parking Restrictions and Street Closures
Street Closures for Fountain Square Art Festival on June 23-24
Church Street from Benson Ave. to Orrington Ave.
Sherman Ave. from Clark St. to Davis St.
CTA Project Closures or Parking Restrictions
Closings
Grove St. (Chicago Ave. to Elmwood Ave.) 7:00 AM on Friday through 5:00 PM on Monday – Vehicles parking in the Rotary International building will be allowed in and out on Friday (No entries after 2:00 PM; exit must be by 7:00 PM) and Monday.
Dempster St. (Chicago Ave. to Sherman Ave.) 7:00 AM on Friday through 5:00 PM on Tuesday
Alley west of Sherman Ave. from Lake St. to Grove St. (Deliveries normally in alley will need to be on Sherman Ave. Garbage will need to be wheeled out as needed.)
Parking Restrictions
(Generally, parking restrictions will be from Friday 7:00 AM through Monday 7:00 AM unless noted)
Sherman Ave. – Davis St. to Grove St. on west side (In front of Rotary will be restricted for deliveries on Friday - No parking rest of weekend for construction)
Sherman Ave. – From Dempster St. to Greenwood Ave. on the east side of street (west of Metra Viaduct)
Sherman Ave. - No parking west side from Greenwood St. to Lake St.
Clark St. & Chicago Ave. – Corner parking restrictions so trucks can make turns
Grove St. – Maple Ave. to Elmwood Ave. south side of Street
Elmwood Ave. – East side of Grove St. going south for 200 feet
Chicago Ave. – West side of street from Clark St. to Church St.
Chicago Ave. - West side of Dempster St. south to the first alley on Chicago Ave. – East side from Grove St. to Greenwood St. (Friday and Saturday only)
Chicago Ave. - West side Dempster St. south to the first alley
Public Viewing
The public is welcome to view either of the viaduct construction projects during the weekend. The viaduct at Dempster St. will tentatively be put into place on Saturday, June 23 between 2:00 -4:00 PM and the Grove St. viaduct most likely will be put into place between 6:00-8:00 PM the same day. Businesses will remain open throughout the weekend. Pedestrian access will remain open throughout the weekend on Dempster St. (from Chicago Ave. to Sherman Place) and on Grove St. (from Chicago Ave. to Maple Ave.) . Some temporary closures of pedestrian walkways may occur due to safety concerns.