Chicago CTA Reroutes Buses for Bridge Maintenance

Three CTA bus routes detour overnight Monday for Roosevelt Bridge maintenance work

CTA Reroutes 3 Bus Routes for Bridge Work

Three Chicago bus routes will detour around the Roosevelt Bridge overnight Monday into Tuesday morning for maintenance work, the Chicago Transit Authority said. Routes #12 Roosevelt, #18 16th/18th, and #N62 Archer will follow alternate paths from 11:59 PM April 20 through 5:00 AM April 21. The reroute affects buses crossing the Chicago River during the overnight maintenance window.

Bridge Maintenance Requires Temporary Detours

The service change accommodates scheduled maintenance on the Roosevelt Bridge over the Chicago River, transit officials said. Bridge maintenance typically requires temporary closures to ensure worker safety and allow equipment access. The CTA schedules such work during overnight hours to minimize rider impact, though some delays are expected. Officials advised passengers to allow extra travel time during the maintenance period.

Eastbound and Westbound Routes Differ

Eastbound buses on the three routes will detour via Roosevelt, Canal, Jackson, and Clark before resuming normal service on Roosevelt, according to the transit agency. Westbound buses will follow a different path using Roosevelt, Clark, Harrison, Dearborn, Van Buren, and Canal before returning to their regular route. The detours add several blocks to the normal route pattern. Officials said buses will return to standard routing once the bridge maintenance concludes at 5:00 AM Tuesday.

Overnight Service Window Limits Disruption

The maintenance window runs from just before midnight Monday through early Tuesday morning, transit officials confirmed. The 5-hour closure period falls during the system's lowest ridership hours. Route #N62 operates as an owl service providing overnight connections. The CTA didn't specify what type of bridge maintenance work will be performed during the closure.

Riders Should Plan for Delays

Passengers using the affected routes should expect longer travel times during the overnight maintenance period, officials said. The detours add multiple turns and several blocks to the normal route pattern. Riders can check Moovit for real-time bus locations and updated arrival times during the reroute. The CTA said buses will resume normal service once bridge work concludes early Tuesday morning.