Coordinated utility upgrades and infrastructure improvements at the intersection of LaSalle and Washington Streets are scheduled to begin on Monday evening, causing a temporary reduction in traffic lanes.

On Monday, October 13th, work will begin at the northwest corner of Washington and LaSalle where ComEd will be replacing a major underground electrical vault. Traffic on LaSalle approaching Washington will be merged to one lane through the intersection.

In addition, the Department of Water Management will be working on Washington from LaSalle to Wells Street to replace a 100-year-old water main, which will require the northernmost travel lane on Washington to be closed to traffic.

This traffic configuration will be in place until November 9th when the electrical vault construction on LaSalle shifts to the center of the intersection and vehicles are directed around the outside of the construction zone. Left turns at the intersection will be prohibited at all times for the duration of the construction projects.

Traffic Control Aides from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications will help guide traffic around the construction.

Both utility projects are expected to be complete by December 21st.

While the streets will not have full closures through the construction, the following are suggested detours around the intersection:

• Eastbound traffic to use Monroe or Lake Streets

• Southbound traffic on Wells or Clark Streets

• Northbound traffic to use Franklin or Dearborn Streets

Southbound CTA buses on LaSalle (operating along the #134, #135, #136 and #156 routes) will be detoured at Wacker Drive to Clark Street to Adams Street before returning to LaSalle. Northbound buses on LaSalle will remain on the regular route. Eastbound buses on Washington will unaffected.

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