Chicago Route 44 Adapts for South Side Progress
CTA Route 44 southbound buses detour to Wallace Street from Racine Avenue for construction
CTA Reroutes Route 44 Buses for Construction
Chicago's Route 44 buses are taking a detour around construction on the city's South Side, transit officials said. The CTA rerouted southbound buses away from Racine Avenue between 31st and 35th Streets starting November 5, with buses now using Wallace Street instead. The agency hasn't said when the temporary change will end, as it depends on construction completion.
Construction Prompts Service Adjustment
The reroute affects a section of the Wallace-Racine corridor where construction work is underway on Racine Avenue, according to the transit agency. Northbound Route 44 buses continue to follow their regular path through the area. Details about the construction project causing the reroute weren't immediately available. The CTA classified the service change as high severity, indicating riders should expect notable impacts to their usual travel patterns.
Limited Scope of Route Change
The detour affects only southbound buses traveling through the three-block stretch between 31st and 35th Streets. Route 44 is one of 129 bus routes operated by the CTA, which provides approximately 1.6 million rides on an average weekday across the system. The agency didn't provide information about how many riders or specific stops are affected by the reroute. Officials said the temporary routing will remain in place until construction work is completed.
No Timeline for Normal Service Return
The CTA hasn't announced when the reroute will end, as the timeline depends on completion of construction work on Racine Avenue. Transit agencies typically don't provide end dates for construction-related service changes until contractors confirm project completion schedules. The service alert was published November 5, when the reroute took effect.
Riders Should Plan for Detour
Passengers who regularly use Route 44 southbound between 31st and 35th Streets should expect their buses to travel on Wallace Street instead of Racine Avenue. The CTA recommends riders allow extra travel time during the temporary service adjustment. Moovit provides real-time updates for CTA routes, helping riders track buses and plan trips around service changes.
