Chicago CTA Reroutes Buses for Bridge Maintenance

Three CTA bus routes detour overnight April 16-17 for Roosevelt Bridge maintenance work

CTA Reroutes 3 Bus Routes for Roosevelt Bridge Work

Three Chicago bus routes will detour around the Roosevelt Bridge overnight Thursday into Friday morning due to maintenance work on the span over the Chicago River. The Chicago Transit Authority said routes 12, 18, and N62 will follow alternate paths from 11:59 PM April 16 to 5:00 AM April 17, 2026. Riders should expect longer travel times during the six-hour closure period.

Context & Background

The Roosevelt Bridge serves as a critical crossing point for multiple bus routes connecting Chicago's South Side to downtown and the Loop. Transit officials said the overnight maintenance window allows crews to perform necessary work while minimizing disruption to weekday commuters. The CTA typically schedules bridge maintenance during late-night hours when ridership is lowest. Route 12 Roosevelt is one of the system's busier crosstown routes, while the N62 Archer operates as an overnight owl service for late-shift workers and early-morning travelers.

Key Details

Eastbound buses on routes 12, 18, and N62 will detour via Roosevelt, Canal, Jackson, and Clark before resuming normal routing on Roosevelt, according to the transit agency. Westbound buses will operate via Roosevelt, Clark, Harrison, Dearborn, Van Buren, and Canal before returning to their regular route. The detours add several blocks to each trip, though officials didn't provide estimates of how much additional time riders should expect. All three routes will return to normal operation by 5:00 AM Friday.

Timeline & Implementation

The reroute takes effect Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM and continues until Friday, April 17 at 5:00 AM. Transit officials said riders should allow extra travel time during the six-hour maintenance period. The agency didn't specify what type of bridge maintenance crews will perform or whether additional closures might be needed.

Rider Impact & Moovit

Passengers traveling through the Roosevelt corridor during overnight hours should plan for longer trips and possible stop relocations along the detour route. The CTA advised riders to check for service updates before traveling. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and detour information for all Chicago Transit Authority routes, helping riders navigate temporary service changes.