Wet weather threatened to delay lane and ramp closings set for Thursday on the Dan Ryan Expressway reconstruction project, the Illinois Department of Transportation said Wednesday night.
Unless conditions overnight into Thursday morning force a delay, traffic would be reduced to one lane inbound along the Bishop Ford Freeway (Interstate Highway 94) from Cottage Grove Avenue into the inbound Ryan, IDOT said.
The far right lane of the Ryan would be closed in both directions from 71st to 95th Streets.
Dry pavement is required to allow work crews to install barriers and pavement markings safely amid the passing traffic, officials said.
A number of ramp closings are planned over the next week in preparation to shift all Ryan traffic onto the express lanes in both directions while the local lanes are closed for nine months of reconstruction.
The ramps to close on the outbound Ryan include the entrance ramp from 31st Street, the exit ramp to Pershing Road, the entrance ramp from 71st Street, the exit ramp to 75th Street, the entrance ramp from 79th Street, the exit ramp to 83rd Street and the exit ramp to Wentworth Avenue.
The ramps to close on the inbound Ryan include the entrance ramp from Michigan Avenue, the entrance ramp from 83rd Street, the exit ramp to 79th Street, the entrance ramp from 75th Street and the exit ramp to 71st Street.
All the above ramps will be closed through April, IDOT said.