Chicago Route 73 Reroutes for Bridge Work

CTA Route 73 detours around Cortland Bridge for two-year construction project

CTA Route 73 Reroutes for Bridge Work

Chicago's Route 73 Armitage bus will detour around the Cortland Bridge starting Sept. 22 as construction crews work on the span over the Chicago River, transit officials said. The reroute affects both eastbound and westbound service and will remain in place through Sept. 30, 2027. Riders should expect longer travel times during the two-year construction period.

Bridge Construction Requires Extended Detour

The Cortland Bridge work represents one of several infrastructure projects affecting CTA bus service this year, according to the transit agency. Officials said the extended timeline reflects the complexity of bridge rehabilitation work over active waterways. The Chicago River crossing serves as a key connection for North Side neighborhoods, and the agency said it designed the detour to minimize disruptions while maintaining access to major destinations along the route. Transit agencies typically coordinate multi-year construction projects with city infrastructure departments to balance maintenance needs with service reliability.

Detailed Route Changes for Riders

Eastbound Route 73 buses will travel via Cortland, Elston, North Avenue, Kingsbury, Clifton and Clybourn before resuming the regular route on Racine, officials said. Westbound buses will operate via Racine, Clybourn, Sheffield, North Avenue and Elston, then return to the normal route on Cortland. The detour adds several turns and extends the route length in both directions. Officials said riders should allow extra travel time, though specific estimates of additional minutes weren't provided. The reroute takes effect at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

Two-Year Timeline for Bridge Project

The reroute will remain in effect through Thursday, Sept. 30, 2027, giving construction crews more than two years to complete the bridge work. Officials didn't provide details about the specific repairs or improvements planned for the Cortland Bridge. The extended timeline suggests substantial structural work rather than routine maintenance. Transit officials said they'll monitor the detour's impact on service reliability and make adjustments if needed, though they didn't specify what metrics they'll track or how often they'll review performance.

System-Wide Service Updates Available

Route 73 riders can expect the detour to affect their commutes throughout the construction period, with the longer route potentially impacting connections to other transit lines. The CTA currently has multiple bus route alerts active across the system, and most rail lines are operating normally aside from planned Brown Line work. Moovit provides real-time updates for Route 73 and all CTA services, helping riders navigate detours and plan trips with current route information.