Chicago CTA Adjusts Routes Around Downtown Work
CTA Route 146 detours through downtown due to State/Lake construction work
CTA Reroutes Route 146 in Downtown Chicago
Chicago's Route 146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express is running on a detour through downtown, transit officials said. The northbound reroute affects riders heading toward Michigan Avenue, with buses now traveling via State Street, Wacker Drive, and East Wacker Place before returning to their regular route. The change began August 20, 2025, due to construction at State/Lake, though officials haven't announced when normal service will resume.
Multiple Construction Projects Affect Downtown Routes
The Route 146 detour is one of several construction-related service changes affecting CTA buses in Chicago's central business district. A separate project closed southbound State Street between Wacker and Randolph from April 13 through May 25, 2026, forcing eight routes to bypass the corridor. Transit agencies typically implement temporary reroutes when street closures prevent buses from accessing regular stops, according to the CTA. Officials said the construction work is necessary for infrastructure improvements, though specific project details weren't provided.
Eight Routes Navigate State Street Closure
The State Street closure affects Routes 2 Hyde Park Express, 6 Jackson Park Express, 10 Museum of Science & Industry, 29 State, 36 Broadway, 62 Archer, 146, and 148 Clarendon/Michigan Express. Southbound buses on these routes can't serve their regular stops along the closed section, officials said. Passengers need to board at alternate locations, though the agency didn't specify which stops remain accessible. Route 146 and Route 148 are both navigating the long-term State/Lake construction and the State Street closure simultaneously, creating overlapping detours for riders.
Overnight Bridge Work Adds April Detour
Route 146 will face an additional overnight reroute April 23-24, 2026, from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM due to maintenance on the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River. Routes 3 King Drive, 147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express, and 151 Sheridan will also detour during the bridge work, officials said. The overnight maintenance represents a separate project from the ongoing State/Lake construction that's been affecting Route 146 since August.
Riders Should Plan Extra Travel Time
Passengers using affected routes should allow additional travel time and check for alternate boarding locations, particularly for southbound trips on State Street, transit officials said. The overlapping construction projects mean some routes are navigating multiple detours simultaneously through downtown Chicago. Moovit provides real-time updates for CTA routes, helping riders track buses and plan trips around the temporary service changes.
