Chicago Route 79 Adapts to Flooding Conditions
CTA Route 79 detoured via Western and 71st after flooding closes 79th and Kedzie intersection
CTA Route 79 Detoured by Flooding at 79th, Kedzie
Chicago's Route 79 bus is running on a detour after flooding closed part of 79th Street near Kedzie Avenue, transit officials said Wednesday. Westbound buses now travel via Western Avenue and 71st Street to bypass the flooded intersection. The Chicago Transit Authority issued a high-severity alert January 8 warning riders to expect delays and modified stop locations. Officials haven't said when normal service will resume.
Flooding Forces Service Changes
The detour affects the 79th Street corridor on Chicago's South Side, where flooding conditions made the intersection at Kedzie Avenue impassable for buses. Transit agencies routinely implement temporary detours during flooding events to protect vehicles from water damage and ensure passenger safety. Chicago's experienced multiple flooding events affecting transit service in recent years, particularly during heavy rainfall periods. Specific details about the weather event that caused this flooding weren't available by publication time.
Detour Route Details
Westbound Route 79 buses now travel east on 79th Street, then north on Western Avenue to 71st Street. From there, buses head west on 71st to Kedzie Avenue, then south on Kedzie back to 79th Street to resume the regular route. The detour adds several blocks to the trip and affects multiple bus stops along the original path. Officials didn't specify how many stops are temporarily relocated or how much additional travel time riders should expect. The CTA classified this as a high-severity service disruption.
Timeline Depends on Conditions
The detour will remain in effect until flooding conditions are resolved, according to the transit agency. Officials haven't provided a specific timeline for when normal service will resume. The CTA typically monitors weather and street conditions continuously during flooding events and restores regular routes once it's safe for buses to operate.
What Riders Need to Know
Passengers traveling westbound on Route 79 should plan for longer trips and look for temporary stop locations along the detour path. The agency said riders should check for updates before traveling, as conditions may change. Moovit provides real-time updates for CTA routes, including detour information and adjusted arrival times during service disruptions.
