Project on track for substantial completion by Thanksgiving 2026.
Continuing Progress in May 2026
Oak Park Avenue from Randolph to Lake Streets will be closed to all north- and southbound traffic and street parking through November 2026. East-west traffic remains open crossing the Avenue on:
• Lake Street
• North Boulevard
• South Boulevard*
• Pleasant Street
• Randolph Street
*Single-lane traffic and permit parking temporarily suspended between Oak Park and Grove Avenues throughout May.
All stores, restaurants, and businesses in the Hemingway District are fully open via sidewalk access!
Free 90-minute parking during construction is just steps away, easy to access, and available every day (plus all day on Sunday) at the conveniently located Avenue Garage, 720 North Boulevard.
Please support our retail neighbors throughout construction; visit the Hemingway District website for the latest exciting District promotions and updates!
The two block-long sections of Oak Park Avenue that closed in February are set to reopen in June (Randolph to Pleasant streets and Lake to Ontario streets). Although sewer and water main replacement work is substantially complete, electrical work and pavement restoration is now under way.
Thru-traffic detours continue at Madison Street for northbound traffic and at Chicago Avenue for southbound traffic. Harlem Avenue (for trucks) and Ridgeland Avenue (for all other vehicles) are the posted thru-traffic detour streets.
Utility and transportation partners including NICOR Gas, Commonwealth Edison, and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) have also coordinated infrastructure improvements during the construction project. During the spring and summer, UPRR will make structural repairs to the viaduct and abutment walls of the elevated railroad. This planned work required removal of Oak Park’s Locks of Love panels, which will be replaced by illuminated panels to improve visibility and enhanced pedestrian safety. The new panels will feature Oak Park-specific mural art.
Sample panel concept design shown above. See final design renderings.
View archived emails:
April 30: Improvements Worth the 'Squeeze'
April 23: All Flags Flying + New Podcast
April 16: Making New Connections
April 9: What Lies Beneath
April 2: Walk This Way
March 26: The Sounds of – Recycling
March 17: A New Season of Construction
March 10: Digging Deep
March 3: Forward March
February 26: Moving Right Along
February 19: More Trees Coming This Spring
February 12: More Free Parking Throughout Construction
February 5: You’ll ❤️ to Know Construction Has Begun!
January 29: Groundhog Day Forecast?
January 22: Oak Park Avenue Stays Open
January 15: Happy ‘RENEW’ Year!