Dan Ryan will be 'a big mess' today
Only one local inbound lane to be open
The Dan Ryan will be down to one local inbound lane today from 71st Street to 31st Street.
That means you won't just be cryin' on the Ryan. You'll feel like you're dyin' on the Ryan, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
"It will be a big mess," IDOT spokesman Mike Claffey warned. "We expect heavy, heavy congestion.''
The inbound Ryan lost two of its three local lanes Sunday in the massive overhaul of the expressway. That means there will be a total of five inbound lanes -- four express and one local. As of today, expect the following closures: the 63rd Street entrance, the 59th Street exit, the 47th Street entrance and exit, the 39th Street entrance and exit, and the 31st Street exit.
In other Dan Ryan news:
• More lane closures are planned by week's end. The cold has slowed re-striping of the road, but in a few days, the Ryan is to lose at least two of its three local outbound lanes, Claffey said. If the weather cooperates, all local lanes will close -- both inbound and outbound -- and traffic will shift to express lanes.
• By this morning, IDOT expects to close the ramp from the inbound Stevenson to the outbound Dan Ryan, and reroute traffic to King Drive.
• Also being closed: the 18th Street exit from the outbound Ryan and the Roosevelt Road entrance to the outbound Ryan.
IDOT officials remind drivers to observe the construction-zone speed limit of 45 mph -- or risk a $375 ticket.