Kennedy highway construction project now underway. | IDOT says the Chicago traffic project will last 3 years

CHICAGO (WLS) — The barricades are in place and Tuesday is the first morning of the Kennedy Expressway construction project.

The work starts due to the poor condition of the bridge decks. Thirty-six bridge structures will be repaired, along with road sign structures, new LED lighting, pavement patches and more.

IDOT crews started setting things up overnight. There are now two left lanes from Montrose to Irving Park. By the end of this week, it will expand into Hubbard’s Cave.

The reconstruction of the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago

The three-year, $150 million, will be done in three phases. First the incoming lanes this year, then the reversing lanes in 2024, followed by the outgoing lanes in 2025.

During this first phase, the express lanes will remain inbound for the entire first phase of the project, which should last one year.

SEE MORE: IDOT kicks off 3-year project on 36 bridges across Kennedy Expressway; closures expected

“Those incoming Kennedy motorists will definitely see impact, you will also see the impact on the outgoing motorists when you normally would have those extra two lanes, so that’s during those afternoon and evening rush hours,” said IDOT spokeswoman Maria Castaneda.

IDOT suggests leaving home earlier or spreading your travel time if possible. Otherwise, CTA and Metra might be a good option. Metra is even adding more trains to their UP Northwest Lines.

Other possible alternatives are the Eisenhower Expressway or DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

The 63-year-old highway has not undergone major work in nearly 30 years.

IDOT will have set up a “smart work zone”, using changeable message boards to keep drivers informed of incidents and travel times.

More information about the project can be found here.