Construction Contracts Awarded for Chicago Transit Authority's Largest Project Ever

"The CTA board on Wednesday approved contracts for the largest and costliest construction project in CTA history: the massive $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line modernization," reports Mary Wisniweski.

"The board also approved a contract for preliminary work on an even larger project: the proposed $2.3 billion extension of the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street," adds Wisniweski.

The Red and Purple Line modernization project is expected to begin in fall 2019 and wrap up in 2025. Wisniweski includes the details of thwt exactly the CTA will be building for the project. Planetizen has been following the planned modernization project since it was first announced in 2014. Here are some of the highlight moments for the project on the path to this week's news.

• Demolition Starts for CTA's Controversial Flyover Project (March 2018)
• Tax Increment Financing District Proposed for Chicago's Big Flyover Transit Project (August 2016)
• Environmental Review Backs Flyover Plans for El Tracks on Chicago's Northside (May 2015)
• High Profile Opposition to Chicago Transit Authority's Flyover Project (May 2014)
• Chicago Planning Flyover Fix for North Side El Lines (April 2014)

As for the Red Line extension project, Wisniweski explains that the contract approved this week will allow for environmental reviews and preliminary engineering work. The CTA has not determined how it will pay for whatever plan emerges from these early efforts.