Interactive construction activity map
Advance construction work
We will perform the following types of prep work this year: property demolition, soil boring, site preparation, and noise monitoring.
This work will have some impacts on the community. CTA is committed to providing residents and local businesses with information about the work throughout this year and next year, including what to expect, when to expect it and what we will do to minimize those impacts.
Expected impacts
- Noise – running air compressors, excavators, generators, general construction noise
- Truck traffic
- Street, alley closures
- Sidewalk closures
- Dust
Property demolition work
To build the Red Line Extension, we have acquired properties that are in the future track alignment.
Demolition of properties began in March 2025 and is expected to continue through fall 2025. To access the most recent list of CTA-owned properties that will be demolished click here. Once work dates and plans are finalized, locations and timing will be shared with the public.
The area of this work includes select sites in the area between south of 95th Street to approximately 118th Street.
Contractors will use water and other dust control measures including the installation of protective green screens on fencing. Multiple adjacent properties will be demolished together to reduce frequency of closures of streets and alleys.
Soil boring
The contractor will perform soil borings to evaluate the soil's composition, which is important to developing the designs for the foundations and related structures for the new Red Line Extension track.
The work will occur along where the new track will be built between 107th Street and Michigan Ave.
Contractors will use water and other dust control measures.
Survey and site preparation work
The contractor will begin surveying and site preparation. Surveying involves measuring and mapping the land's contours, structures, and any natural features. Site preparation work includes site inspections, abatement (asbestos, lead and rodent abatement) and utility inspection and disconnection.
This work will occur throughout the future track alignment south of 95th Street to 130th Street.
Contractors will use water and other dust control measures. The contractor will also install protective fencing.
Noise monitoring
The contractor is installing monitors to measure pre-construction noise levels, followed by noise monitoring post-construction to ensure construction noise isn’t excessive.
The short and long-term monitors will be placed in locations south of 95th Street along the Dan Ryan to Eggleston Avenue; and then along the Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks south of the Dan Ryan Expressway to the area south of 130th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.
Advance utility relocation
We will relocate utility equipment to clear the way for new track and station construction to avoid delays in the project when major construction is under way. This work began summer 2024 and will continue throughout the Red Line Extension project area, including sections near the future track alignment in Far South Side communities. The work will include:
- New underground trenches and relocating power and communication lines
- Shorter poles will be installed to provide service to adjacent properties
- Relocating power transformers on poles to underground
The area of this work is located from 95th Street to south of 130th Street.
Contractors intend to complete utility work for multiple utilities in one location to reduce number of street and alley closures.
Security
Safety and security for the community is a top priority, including proactively ensuring that properties that are awaiting demolition are secured and do not become nuisances for neighbors.
To do this, we work closely with a property management company, East Lake Management, that secures and regularly monitors and inspects all CTA-owned properties, addressing any issues that arise and swiftly responding to any questions or concerns raised by community members.
East Lake secures properties by conducting comprehensive site surveys, removing debris, boarding up windows, changing locks, mowing and weed removal graffiti removal, and snow removal. Any issues spotted or reported will be immediately addressed. Any criminal activity that is suspected or observed is immediately reported to Chicago Police.
While we make consistent efforts to be a good neighbor and steward of CTA properties, we strongly encourage neighbors to if they see something, say something by calling East Lake Management at (312) 842-5500. Any illegal or nuisance activity is unacceptable to CTA and we strongly recommend neighbors to call 911 if they believe they are in danger or witness what they believe to be criminal activity.
Construction activity notices (CANs)
As we work hard to build the Red Line Extension, we know that our construction can and does affect people who live and work nearby. This is why we provide advanced notice to communities in the RLE project footprint about work that we will be doing. These Construction Activity Notices (CANs) are also emailed to affected residents and businesses and physically posted in work site areas.
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