The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has broken ground on the Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization Project, part of the CTA’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project.
The CTA will begin this spring rebuilding the 100-year-old Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations and track structures on the CTA’s busiest rail line. The new stations, which will open by the end of 2024, will be modern, larger, and fully accessible stations that will include elevators, wider platforms, and other improved amenities.
The CTA will also rebuild the century-old track structure between the four contiguous stations, which will provide a smoother, more comfortable, and more reliable ride.
This spring, the CTA is beginning “Stage A”, the first of two stages of construction, which begins with the demolition of a 100-year old track structure between Red Line Lawrence to Bryn Mawr. CTA’s contractor, Walsh-Fluor, will rebuild the northbound Red and Purple Line track structures (the two easternmost tracks) into a new and modern track structure to meet today’s needs of the Red Line, the busiest line in the CTA system. Stage A will be completed in late 2022, and then Stage B will begin and include reconstruction of the southbound Red and Purple Line tracks and the four new stations.
The RPM Phase One Project includes three major components:
- Reconstruction of the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations into larger, 100 percent accessible stations; and replacement of track structure totaling six track-miles that is a century old.
- New Red-Purple Bypass construction (expected completion in 2021); followed by the reconstruction of Red and Purple Line track structure between Belmont and Newport/Cornelia (expected completion by the end of 2024).
- Installation of a new signal system on 23 track miles between Howard and Belmont that, similar to roadway traffic signals, will improve train flow and service reliability.
The work accomplished in RPM Phase One will make smoother, more comfortable trips for CTA customers with improved service and modern station houses that are fully accessible to people with disabilities. All RPM Phase One work will be completed in 2025, with the new stations expected to open by the end of 2024.
