Chicago Route 66 Adapts for Infrastructure Work

Route 66 bus detours via State and Kinzie streets for water main work on Chicago Avenue

Route 66 Reroutes for Water Main Work

Chicago's Route 66 bus is temporarily rerouted due to water main construction on Chicago Avenue between State Street and Wabash Avenue, transit officials said Sunday. The detour affects one of the city's major east-west corridors, though CTA hasn't said how many daily riders are impacted. The reroute began January 12 and will remain in effect until further notice.

Route 66 serves Chicago Avenue, a key transit corridor connecting downtown Chicago with neighborhoods to the west. The construction work blocks the normal route through a busy downtown section near State Street. CTA operates 129 bus routes throughout Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs, with Route 66 being one of the major crosstown lines. Transit agencies routinely implement temporary reroutes when construction or utility work blocks normal bus paths, according to standard operating procedures.

Eastbound Route 66 buses now travel via State Street, Kinzie Street, and Wabash Avenue to bypass the construction zone. Westbound buses take the reverse path via Wabash Avenue, Kinzie Street, and State Street. The detour routes buses around the blocked section of Chicago Avenue where water main work is underway. Officials didn't provide details about the construction project timeline or which entity is performing the work.

The reroute will continue until further notice, according to CTA's service alert posted January 12. Officials haven't announced when the water main construction will be completed or when Route 66 will return to its normal path. CTA typically posts service alerts for temporary disruptions rather than issuing formal announcements for construction-related reroutes. The agency classified this as a high-severity alert, indicating riders should plan ahead.

Riders who regularly use Route 66 along the affected section of Chicago Avenue should expect different stop locations during the reroute. CTA recommends passengers review the detour details before traveling and allow extra time for their commutes. Moovit provides real-time updates for CTA routes, including temporary service changes and reroutes throughout the Chicago transit system.