CTA Reroutes Express Buses Around Loop Construction
CTA reroutes northbound #146 and #148 express buses via Wacker Drive for State/Lake construction
CTA Reroutes #146, #148 Buses for State/Lake Work
Riders of two Chicago express bus routes will need to adjust their commutes starting Wednesday. The Chicago Transit Authority announced northbound #146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express and #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express buses will detour around construction at State/Lake beginning August 20 at 9 a.m. Officials haven't said when the reroute will end.
Construction Forces Downtown Detour
The reroute stems from construction work at the State/Lake intersection in the Loop, transit officials said. Northbound buses on both routes will operate via State, Wacker Drive, and East Wacker Place before resuming their normal path on Michigan Avenue. The detour affects only northbound service—southbound #146 and #148 buses will continue operating on their regular routes without changes. Officials advised passengers to allow extra travel time while the reroute remains in effect.
Limited Impact on Express Service
The two affected routes are among CTA's express bus services connecting the North Side to downtown Chicago during peak periods. Both routes typically use Michigan Avenue through the Loop before continuing north. Officials didn't specify how much additional travel time riders should expect or how many daily trips the reroute affects. The construction work at State/Lake is part of ongoing infrastructure maintenance in the downtown area, though the agency hasn't released details about the specific project requiring the detour.
Reroute Begins Wednesday Morning
The service modification takes effect Wednesday, August 20, at 9 a.m., CTA confirmed. Officials haven't announced an end date for the reroute, saying the duration depends on construction progress at State/Lake. The agency typically provides advance notice before service changes, and this reroute was announced several days before implementation to give riders time to plan alternate routes or adjust their schedules.
System-Wide Service Updates
The express bus reroute comes as CTA manages multiple service adjustments across its network. Most rail lines are operating with normal service, though elevator outages currently affect several stations on Red, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple, and Pink Lines. Multiple bus routes system-wide have active alerts for various service modifications. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates on #146 and #148 routes, including current detour information and estimated arrival times during the construction period.
