Chicago CTA Reroutes Buses for Bridge Maintenance
CTA routes 12, 18, and N62 detour overnight April 16-17 for Roosevelt Bridge maintenance
CTA Reroutes 3 Bus Routes for Bridge Work
Three Chicago bus routes will detour around the Roosevelt Bridge overnight Thursday as crews perform 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 p.m. April 16 through 5 a.m. April 17, 2026. Officials advised riders to allow extra travel time during the overnight closure.
Bridge Maintenance Requires Overnight Closure
The Roosevelt Bridge serves as a key crossing point for multiple bus routes connecting Chicago's South Side to downtown and the Near West Side. Transit agencies typically schedule bridge maintenance during overnight hours to minimize disruption to commuters, though the work still affects night owl service and early morning riders. The CTA didn't specify what type of maintenance work crews will perform on the bridge. Bridge inspections and repairs are routine requirements for aging urban infrastructure spanning waterways.
Buses Follow Alternate Downtown Routes
Eastbound buses on routes 12 Roosevelt, 18 16th/18th, and N62 Archer will detour via Roosevelt, Canal, Jackson, and Clark before resuming their normal route on Roosevelt, according to the transit agency. Westbound buses on the same routes will operate via Roosevelt, Clark, Harrison, Dearborn, Van Buren, and Canal before returning to their regular route. The detours add several blocks to the normal path through downtown Chicago. Officials said the reroutes will remain in effect for the approximately five-hour maintenance window.
Work Scheduled During Overnight Hours
The reroute takes effect Thursday, April 16 at 11:59 p.m. and continues until Friday, April 17 at 5 a.m., the CTA confirmed. The overnight timing affects the N62 night owl service, which operates when rail lines aren't running, as well as late-night and early-morning trips on routes 12 and 18. The agency said normal service will resume on all three routes once the maintenance work concludes Friday morning.
Riders Can Track Detours in Real Time
Passengers on affected routes should plan for longer trip times during the overnight maintenance period, transit officials said. The detours will add several minutes to trips through the downtown area as buses navigate alternate streets. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and updated route information for CTA services, helping riders track their buses during temporary detours and service changes.
