CTA Reroutes Buses for Bridge Maintenance

Three CTA bus routes detour overnight Thursday for Roosevelt Bridge maintenance work

CTA Reroutes 3 Bus Routes for Bridge Work

Three Chicago bus routes will detour around the Roosevelt Bridge overnight Thursday as crews perform maintenance work on the span over the Chicago River. The Chicago Transit Authority said routes 12, 18, and N62 will follow alternate paths from 11:59 p.m. April 16 to 5 a.m. April 17. Riders should expect longer travel times during the six-hour closure.

Bridge Maintenance Requires Overnight Detours

The Roosevelt Bridge closure is part of routine infrastructure maintenance that transit agencies perform to keep bridges safe and operational, officials said. The work requires a full closure of the bridge to bus traffic during overnight hours when ridership is typically lower. The timing minimizes disruption to daytime commuters while allowing crews to complete necessary repairs. Chicago's transit system includes numerous bridges over the Chicago River that require regular upkeep to maintain structural integrity.

Detailed Reroute Paths for Three Routes

Eastbound buses on routes 12 Roosevelt, 18 16th/18th, and N62 Archer will detour via Roosevelt, Canal, Jackson, and Clark before resuming their normal route on Roosevelt, the CTA said. Westbound buses on the same routes will operate via Roosevelt, Clark, Harrison, Dearborn, Van Buren, and Canal before returning to their regular route. The detours add several blocks to the normal path through downtown Chicago. Route N62 is an overnight owl service that operates when most other CTA routes aren't running.

Six-Hour Closure Scheduled Overnight Thursday

The reroute takes effect Thursday, April 16 at 11:59 p.m. and continues until Friday, April 17 at 5 a.m., transit officials said. The six-hour window allows maintenance crews to work on the bridge structure without affecting daytime service. Passengers are advised to allow extra travel time during this period. The CTA didn't specify what type of maintenance work will be performed on the Roosevelt Bridge.

Riders Should Plan for Longer Trips

Passengers using the affected routes overnight Thursday should expect delays due to the longer detour paths through downtown streets, officials said. The detours add multiple turns and several blocks to normal routes. Riders can check real-time bus locations and updated arrival times through Moovit, which provides live tracking for all CTA routes during service changes. The overnight timing affects fewer riders than daytime closures would, though N62 owl service passengers will need to account for the extended route.