CTA Purple Line could see service disruptions due to Evanston’s South Boulevard station construction

Chicago Transit Authority riders will want to check the CTA website’s alert section for service notifications before using its Purple Line. The CTA extended construction near Evanston’s South Boulevard Purple Line station to Sept. 30, according to a constriction activity notice, which a CTA spokesperson anticipates will create a “brief service disruption.”

Work is being done to replace the wooden crossties on its northbound track with work beginning south of the station and making its way up to the South Boulevard stop, according to CTA spokesperson Maddie Kilgannon.

The project, which began on June 5, was slated to end earlier but was extended due to having to work under a live train, making it difficult to achieve its anticipated progress.

“So far the CTA has replaced ties in nearly 2,000 feet of track,” Kilgannon said. “Due to other work requiring single track closures on the same route, the work at South Boulevard has been under some traffic. Due to working under live train traffic without the use of track maintenance equipment (the project) has taken longer than originally anticipated.”

Kilgannon said construction will likely occur on weekends because a portion of the station is an elevated open deck track, which requires daylight attention. She said the CTA anticipates a brief Purple Line service disruption due to the project. Riders can utilize a bus shuttle service during a service disruption, she said.

Kilgannon did not provide Pioneer Press the days with anticipated service disruptions but encouraged riders to check the CTA website’s alerts section at transitchicago.com for updates.

Weekend construction times are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to the construction activity notice. If plans change and work must be done during the weekdays, construction would take place at night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

In addition to service impacts, a construction activity notice warns of additional noise coming from diesel equipment engines, “crunching rock,” flagging horns, backup alarm beeping and metal on metal material handling.

Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.

Originally Published: Aug 15, 2023 at 2:03 pm