CTA Reroutes N66 for Bridge Maintenance Work

CTA N66 bus detours via five downtown streets for Michigan Avenue Bridge maintenance

CTA Reroutes N66 Bus for Bridge Work March 26-27

Chicago's overnight N66 bus will detour around the Michigan Avenue Bridge for one night due to maintenance work, transit officials said. The reroute affects service from 10 PM Thursday, March 26, 2026, through 5 AM Friday, March 27, according to the Chicago Transit Authority. Buses will travel via Chicago, Fairbanks, Columbus, Randolph, and Michigan streets in both directions during the seven-hour closure.

Bridge Maintenance Drives Overnight Detour

The temporary route change is necessary to accommodate maintenance work on the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River, CTA officials said. The bridge spans one of downtown Chicago's busiest corridors and requires periodic overnight maintenance to minimize disruption to daytime traffic and commerce. Officials didn't specify what type of maintenance work will be performed or whether additional closures are planned. Transit agencies typically schedule infrastructure work during overnight hours when ridership is lowest, though the N66 owl service provides critical connections for late-night workers and early-morning commuters.

Detour Route Spans Five Downtown Streets

N66 buses will follow a modified path using Chicago, Fairbanks, Columbus, Randolph, and Michigan streets during the reroute period, according to the CTA. The detour keeps buses on downtown streets parallel to the regular route, though officials didn't provide details about which specific stops will be temporarily relocated or bypassed. Passengers are advised to allow extra travel time during the overnight period. The agency didn't say how much additional time riders should expect for their trips or how many stops will be affected by the temporary routing.

Single-Night Closure Ends Friday Morning

The service change begins at 10 PM on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and continues until 5 AM Friday, March 27, CTA officials confirmed. Normal N66 routing will resume with the start of Friday morning service. The agency typically provides advance notice of planned service changes through multiple channels, though officials didn't say when riders were first notified of this specific reroute.

Riders Can Track Real-Time Service Changes

Late-night commuters and early-morning workers who rely on the N66 should plan for the modified route during the overnight maintenance window. The CTA encourages riders to sign up for service updates to stay informed about changes affecting their routes. Moovit provides real-time updates for CTA bus routes, including the N66 owl service, helping riders navigate temporary detours and track bus arrivals during service changes.