Van Buren Bridge to be closed to traffic until January

Just weeks after the Wells Street Bridge project concluded, another major bridge reconstruction project will begin downtown Thursday, this time closing the Van Buren Bridge for more than 8 months.

The $2.5 million project will be funded through the TIF program and will include a new roadway deck; and repair of girders, floor beams and lateral bracing for the bridge, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The roadway will be closed from May 1 until Jan. 7, 2015, according to CDOT. However, the two sidewalks will remain open to pedestrians throughout the construction.

All vehicles will be detoured south on Wacker Drive to Harrison Street, west on Harrison to Canal Street, and north on Canal to Van Buren. Bicyclists should use the bike lane on Madison Street as an alternate, according to CDOT.

Also, southbound CTA No. 37 Sedgwick buses will be detoured from Van Buren and travel north on Wacker to Adams Street, west on Adams to Clinton, and then resume normal routing south of Van Buren. Northbound No. 37 buses will not be affected.