Traffic in Chicago is getting worse every day and construction on major roads and highways only makes it worse. Chicago is currently tied with New York City for having the worst traffic in the country, with the average Chicagoland driver spending 102 hours in traffic last year.
On the list of the most congested roads in 2024 was Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway, which will continue major construction and lane closures now through Thanksgiving. Commuting in and out of downtown has quickly become a nightmare and I-90 will only continue to be gridlocked during peak com-muting times with outbound traffic being severely affected. Reversible lanes will have limited exits at various times and throughout construction changing ramp and lane closures will cause massive tie-ups. Travel to O’Hare International Airport from downtown also is impacted.
Luckily, Metra’s UP North, Milwaukee District North, North Central Service, and UP Northwest lines serve the areas most affected by construction, and are all faster, more reliable travel alternatives for getting to work.
The road closures don’t end there. With spring and summer weather upon us, street construction across Chicagoland is set to resume. As crews work to repair winter damage across the city drivers can expect street closures and major delays within the next couple of months.
With brutal traffic only worsened by construction season, driving is no longer a reliable, stress-free way to commute. With Metra’s 95% on-time rate, we remain committed to getting commuters where they need to go quickly, comfort-ably, and safely so you can Drive Less and Do More.
