CTA Restores Routes 88, 90 After Bridge Work

CTA routes 88 and 90 return to normal paths March 23 after Harlem station bridge work

CTA Routes 88, 90 Resume Normal Service March 23

Chicago's CTA will restore normal routing for routes 88 Higgins and 90 Harlem starting Monday, March 23, at 6:00 AM, transit officials announced. The changes follow completion of construction on the Harlem Blue Line station's bus bridge over the Kennedy Expressway. Riders should note new boarding locations at the station to avoid confusion.

Construction Completion Enables Service Restoration

The routing restoration comes after the CTA finished work on the Harlem Blue Line station's bus bridge, which required temporary detours for multiple bus routes. The bridge serves as a critical connection point for CTA and Pace bus services crossing the Kennedy Expressway. Officials said the construction project aimed to improve infrastructure reliability and passenger access at one of the system's key transfer points. The completion allows buses to return to their standard paths and boarding locations.

New Boarding Locations at Harlem Station

Westbound route 88 buses to Devon/Canfield will board at the north bus bay on the station's bus bridge instead of the northeast corner of Harlem/Bryn Mawr. Eastbound route 88 buses to Jefferson Park Blue Line station will use the southbound bus stop outside the station's east entrance. Route 90 buses will begin and end trips at the center bus bay on the bus bridge rather than rerouting via Talcott and Sayre. Pace Bus routes 209 Busse Hwy and 423 Linden CTA will also resume boarding at the bus bridge.

Changes Take Effect Monday Morning

The service changes become effective Monday, March 23, 2026, at 6:00 AM, officials confirmed. The CTA didn't specify how long the previous detours had been in place or provide details about the construction timeline. Transit officials said the restoration to normal routing should improve travel times and reduce confusion for regular riders familiar with standard route patterns.

Riders Should Note Updated Stop Locations

Passengers using routes 88 and 90 should familiarize themselves with the new boarding locations at Harlem Blue Line station before Monday morning. Officials said riders accustomed to temporary stop locations during construction will need to adjust to the permanent configurations. Moovit provides real-time bus locations and stop information for CTA routes throughout Chicago, helping riders navigate service changes and find correct boarding points.