Chicago Route 60 Reroutes for Infrastructure Work
CTA Route 60 eastbound buses detour via Harrison and Jefferson for Canal Street work
CTA Reroutes Route 60 for Canal Street Work
Chicago's Route 60 Blue Island/26th bus will detour around downtown construction for the next year, affecting eastbound riders. The Chicago Transit Authority announced the reroute Tuesday due to the Chicago Department of Transportation's Canal Street Reconstruction Project. Eastbound buses will use Harrison and Jefferson streets before returning to their regular route on Washington, while westbound service continues unchanged.
Year-Long Construction Project Drives Change
The Canal Street reconstruction represents a major infrastructure upgrade in Chicago's downtown core, requiring temporary transit adjustments to maintain service during construction. CDOT's project necessitates closing portions of Canal Street to through traffic, making the original Route 60 path impassable for eastbound buses. Transit agencies typically reroute buses around construction zones rather than suspend service entirely, ensuring riders maintain access to destinations along affected corridors. The year-long timeline reflects the scope of street reconstruction work, which often includes utility upgrades, new pavement, and streetscape improvements.
Five Temporary Stops Serve Eastbound Riders
The CTA designated five temporary boarding locations for eastbound Route 60 passengers during the detour. Riders should board at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Harrison, Jefferson and Van Buren, and Jefferson and Jackson. Additional stops are located at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Washington, and Washington and Canal. Officials said passengers should allow extra travel time during the construction period, though specific delay estimates weren't provided. The temporary stops replace regular Canal Street stops that are inaccessible during construction.
Reroute Remains Through 2027
The service change took effect this week and will remain in place for approximately one year as CDOT completes the Canal Street reconstruction. The CTA didn't specify an exact end date for the detour, noting the timeline depends on construction progress. Westbound Route 60 buses continue operating on their normal route without changes. Transit officials said they'll notify riders before service returns to the regular routing.
Riders Can Track Detoured Buses
Route 60 serves Chicago's Near West Side and downtown, connecting neighborhoods along Blue Island Avenue and 26th Street to the Loop. The temporary routing adds several blocks to eastbound trips, though officials haven't quantified the additional travel time. Riders can track buses on the detoured route and find temporary stop locations through real-time transit apps. Moovit provides updated Route 60 schedules and shows temporary stop locations during the Canal Street construction period.
