Debris on tracks causes significant Blue Line delays on Near West Side

Wet concrete from that spilled from a bridge construction project onto the CTA’s Blue Line tracks just west of the Loop early Tuesday delayed thousands of commuters.

The mess started around 3:30 a.m. when a mold being filled with wet concrete collapsed at an IDOT construction project on the Halsted Street Bridge, IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said.

Wet concrete and other debris fell on the Blue Line tracks below. No trains came into contact with the concrete and debris, he said.

“We have extra manpower and equipment out there to clean it up as soon as possible,” said Tridgell, who added that the cause of the accident was under investigation.

The incident caused headaches for commuters on the blue line between Forest Park and the Loop, as trains ran on a single track between the Racine and LaSalle stations during rush hour. And trains were still running on a single track as of 10:40 a.m., according to a CTA spokesman.

Customers should board all trains on the Forest Park-bound side platforms at the UIC-Halsted, Clinton and LaSalle stations, the spokeswoman said.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long it would take for normal service to resume, but Blue Line riders should allow for at least 10 or 15 minutes of travel delays.

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Crews work to clear debris from the Blue Line tracks near the Halsted/UIC stop. | Brian Jackson/Sun-Times