48th Ward CTA Construction Updates
September 13, 2012
Dear Neighbor,
The CTA’s “Red Ahead” project continues renovations at Thorndale and Argyle. Each of these stations remains closed; however, the streets will remain open for traffic this weekend Sept. 14 – Sept. 16.
As part of the renovations, each of our stations will receive a new public art piece. Please join me and the CTA on Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30pm at the Broadway Armory.
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Please contact me at Harry@48thward.org or 773-784-5277 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 773-784-5277 end_of_the_skype_highlighting if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued patience during this construction period. Sincerely, Harry Osterman Alderman, 48th Ward
CTA Public Art Community Meeting
With all the construction going on at our CTA stations, I am excited to announce that the CTA will be soliciting proposals for original art works to be installed inside each of the refurbished stations 
(Granville, Thorndale, Berwyn, Argyle and Lawrence). This program has been hugely successful city-wide and will result in the addition of major works to the 50 pieces currently on exhibit at 41 other CTA stations.
All who are interested in hearing about the request, proposal, and selection process are invited to attend a presentation by representatives of the CTA on Tuesday September 18th at the Broadway Armory beginning at 6:30pm.
Argyle
Station The station is closed for 6 weeks and will re-open around 10:00pm on Friday, October 5. During this time, we are encouraging riders to use Berwyn or Lawrence. In August, I hosted a community meeting with the CTA. Click here to view the power point presentation from that meeting.
The Street 
Argyle St. will remain open to traffic this weekend, September 14 – September 16. Curb lanes will be closed with parking restrictions and flaggers will be working to maintain traffic safely.
In partnership with Uptown United and the CTA, my office is working with local business owners to market Argyle businesses during construction. Look for “Open on Argyle” signs identifying alternative parking sites in the community.
Thorndale
Station The station closed Friday, August 17 and will re-open around 10:00pm on Friday, September 28. During this time, we are encouraging riders to use Granville or Bryn Mawr.
The Street Thorndale will remain open to traffic this weekend, September 14 – September 16. Curb lanes will be closed with parking restrictions and flaggers will be working to maintain traffic safely.
Granville
Due to inclement weather the weekend of Friday, September 7 – Monday, September 10, the CTA canceled the remaining construction on Granville for slow zone and viaduct work. The final constuction weekend on Granville will be rescheduled for sometime in October. My office will notify you of the dates and times.
Berwyn
Due to inclement weather the weekend of Friday, September 7 – Monday, September 10, the CTA canceled the viaduct work on Berwyn. It has been rescheduled for the weekend of Thursday September 20 – Monday, September 24. Therefore, there will be a full street closure on Berwyn from Broadway to Winthrop starting Thursday, September 20 at 8:00am through Monday, September 24 at noon.
There continues to be a single lane closure on Berwyn from now until October 5 affecting only the west bound traffic off Winthrop. There will be shoring towers to support parts of the viaduct and the concrete framework during these repairs which will limit the ability to maintain traffic in both directions.
Slow Zone Work and Weekend Ride Backs 
The CTA’s Red Ahead project has been awarded an additional 15 million dollars to work on the north red line’s “slow zones.” Therefore, the CTA will be performing extensive track work between stations on the weekends. This will result in weekend ride backs, running trains express to Loyola (for north bound riders) or Sheridan (for south bound riders) and “riding back” to your station destination.
Work will take place this weekend Friday, September 14 at 10pm – Monday September 17 at 12pm. During this time, Howard-bound trains will not stop at Wilson, Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, or Granville stations.
The CTA is recommending for service to these stations, take a Howard-bound train to the Loyola and transfer to a 95th-bound train. For service from these stations, take a 95th-bound train to Sheridan and transfer to a Howard-bound train.
More Information on “Red Ahead” The Red Ahead Project includes improvements to the viaduct over the street, the track work through the station, the station house and platform. Enhancements will include:
- Concrete repairs, painting and sealing/coating of the viaduct
- Upgraded lighting under the viaduct
- Masonry repairs and new tuck-pointing on the station house exterior
- New windows, doors and exterior lighting on the station house
- New station house interior finishes (i.e. walls, flooring, ceiling), lighting and signage
- Improved station house interior layout/circulation
- Sidewalk repairs and new bike racks outside of the station house
- Refurbished platform foundations, decking, fixtures and furnishings
- Refurbished canopy structure
For more information on the Red Ahead project, please visit www.transitchicago.org/redahead/.
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