CTA Reroutes Ashland Buses Around Construction

CTA reroutes northbound #9 Ashland buses via Harrison, Damen, Jackson for construction

CTA Reroutes #9 Ashland Buses for Construction

Northbound #9 Ashland and #X9 Ashland Express buses will detour around construction work on a section of Ashland Avenue, the Chicago Transit Authority said. The overnight reroute affects service between Congress and Van Buren, where construction work requires buses to travel via Harrison, Damen, and Jackson before returning to their regular route. Southbound buses won't be affected by the change.

Construction Work Prompts Service Adjustment

The temporary reroute addresses construction activity on Ashland Avenue in the downtown corridor, transit officials said. The affected stretch between Congress and Van Buren represents a key segment of the #9 Ashland route, one of Chicago's busiest north-south bus corridors. Officials didn't specify what type of construction work is taking place or how long the project will last. The CTA typically implements overnight reroutes to minimize disruption during peak travel periods while allowing contractors to complete necessary infrastructure work.

Detour Route Details

Northbound buses will travel their normal route on Ashland until reaching the construction zone, then detour east on Harrison, north on Damen, and east on Jackson before resuming service on Ashland, according to the transit agency. The detour adds approximately four blocks to the route's path through the affected area. Officials advised passengers to allow extra travel time during the reroute period. The agency didn't provide specific estimates for how much additional time riders should expect for trips through the detour zone.

Overnight Implementation Schedule

The service change is scheduled to take place overnight, transit officials said, though specific start and end times weren't provided in the alert. The CTA didn't announce how many nights the reroute will remain in effect or when normal service will resume on the affected segment. Officials said the temporary nature of the change suggests the construction work has a defined completion timeline, but that information wasn't available.

Rider Information and Updates

Passengers using the #9 Ashland or #X9 Ashland Express routes during overnight hours should plan for the detour and allow additional travel time, officials said. The reroute affects only northbound service, leaving southbound trips on their regular path. Riders can check Moovit for real-time bus locations and updated arrival times during the construction period. The CTA encourages passengers to monitor service alerts for information about when normal routing will resume.