Revive Wacker Drive

Nearby Restaurants Remain Open on Weekends

Revive Wacker Drive — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:51:16 +0000

Tax season and busy work schedules are keeping downtown offices filled on the weekends. If your office is looking for a quick breakfast or lunch break, we encourage you to support businesses impacted by the Wacker Drive construction project. Please consider the restaurants and coffee shops below that remain open on the weekends.

Randolph to Washington
Sushi Sai
Saturday Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Delivery: Yes, $2 fee
123 N. Wacker
312-332-8822
www.SushiSaiOnline.com

Washington to Madison
Billy Goat II
Saturday Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday Hours: Closed
309 W. Washington
312-899-1873
www.BillyGoatTavern.com

McDonalds
Saturday Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday Hours: Closed
29 N. Wacker
312-456-4307
www.McDonalds.com

Madison to Monroe
Crumb’s Bake Shop
Saturday Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
303 W. Madison
312-263-6500
www.Crumbs.com

Starbucks
Saturday Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
303 W. Madison
312-781-9845
www.Starbucks.com

Monroe to Adams
Potbelly Sandwich Works
Saturday Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday Hours: Closed
Delivery: Yes, $10 minimum order
150 S. Wacker
312-419-1148
www.Potbelly.com

Adams to Jackson
Corner Bakery Café
Saturday Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Delivery: Yes, $50 minimum order
Union Station
312-441-0821
www.CornerBakeryCafe.com

Dunkin Donuts
Saturday Hours: 6 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday Hours: Closed
233 S. Wacker (Lower Level)
312-715-1260
www.DunkinDonuts.com

Panera Bread
Saturday Hours: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday Hours: Closed
250 S. Wacker
312-496-0021
www.PaneraBread.com

If you’re working late, the following bars and restaurants open in the early evening:

Lake to Randolph
N9NE Steakhouse
Saturday Hours: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday Hours: Closed
440 W. Randolph
312-575-9900
www.n9negroup.com

Madison to Monroe
Rivers
Saturday Hours: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday Hours: 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (during Opera season only)
30 S. Wacker
312-559-1515
www.RiversRestaurant.com

Wacker crews discover Cold War fallout supplies

Revive Wacker Drive — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Recently CDOT construction crews discovered a nuclear fallout storage area from the Cold War while working on Lower Wacker Drive.

The storage area, built in 1962, contained several supplies to help survive radiation in the case of a nuclear attack. Supplies included medicine, barrels of water, a portable toilet and even some biscuits – which are still good today.

Check out this video from ABC 7 Chicago for coverage of the historic find.

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Pedestrian Access Map for Monroe & Adams Construction

Revive Wacker Drive — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:10:01 +0000

Today marks the first day of construction on the Monroe and Adams intersections at Wacker. Please see the pedestrian access map below for help navigating the new construction area.

All businesses near the construction zone remain open. Please continue to support them throughout the project.

Wacker Construction Moving to Monroe and Adams

Revive Wacker Drive — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:52:47 +0000

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will start the next stage of the Wacker Drive rebuilding on Jan. 9 by beginning the construction of the Monroe Street and Adams Street intersections after completing the Madison Street intersection on-time and on-budget. The $300 million reconstruction of Wacker Drive, which will completely rebuild and modernize the upper and lower levels of the nearly 60-year-old roadway, is scheduled for completion in late-2012.

This stage of construction will close the Monroe Street and Adams Street intersections until summer, and the Madison Street intersection will be re-opened to all traffic.

“Our crews continue to work efficiently to meet the demands of a very aggressive construction schedule,” said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein. “We will maintain that same level of efficiency in 2012 so that motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists can again have full access to this vital roadway and the businesses that surround it.”

Pedestrian Impacts
East-West
Sidewalks along Madison Street will re-open to all pedestrian traffic. CDOT will also maintain a pedway on the north side of Monroe Street at Wacker Drive. Jackson Boulevard remains open to all pedestrian traffic.

North-South
Pedestrians can continue to use Canal Street and Franklin Street for north-south travel. The sidewalk along the east side of Wacker Drive from Jackson Boulevard will remain open to allow access to Willis Tower’s Wacker Drive entrance.

All buildings and businesses near the construction zone will remain open and accessible throughout the project. Please visit Traffic Impacts to view the pedestrian and building access map for complete details.

Vehicle & Bicycle Impacts
East-West
Madison Street will re-open the week of Jan. 9 to all westbound traffic. Jackson remains open to all eastbound traffic.

North-South
Franklin Street remains open to two-way traffic to accommodate vehicles detoured from north-south Wacker Drive. Northbound traffic can continue to use Canal Street for an alternate route.

Lower Wacker will remain open for local access only.

Public Transit
CDOT is partnering with the CTA and Office of Emergency Management and Communications to ensure both public transportation and traffic flow as smoothly as possible. Bus re-routes will be available on the CTA’s website, www.transitchicago.com/wacker.

Metra will be making announcements on its trains and will have pedestrian detour information at its transportation centers.

Project Overview
North-South Wacker Drive was originally built in 1955, and is in need of a complete reconstruction. Revive Wacker Drive, Part 2 will modernize the upper and lower levels of Wacker Drive by creating safer, more efficient roadways for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Part 2 of the project picks up where the 2001-2002 reconstruction left off.

The improvements will be met with wider roadways, a new ramp from the upper to lower level at Monroe Street and a new left-turn lane for northbound Wacker at Randolph. As of 2009, approximately 60,000 vehicles travel daily on the upper and lower levels of Wacker. Modernizing Wacker Drive will not only improve safety, but will relieve congestion, reduce travel times and enhance aesthetics for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Revive Wacker Drive, Part 2 will continue the second half of 2012 with the reconstruction of Jackson Boulevard to Van Buren Street. Work also continues at the Wacker/Congress Parkway interchange, which is being reconfigured to improve traffic flow and safety, as well as create a new three-acre park. Revive Wacker Drive, Part 2 is scheduled for completion in late-2012.

For the latest construction updates and project news, please continue to check back with www.wackerdrive.org.

Pedestrian Access Change

Revive Wacker Drive — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:47:25 +0000

Beginning Friday, Nov. 4, pedestrian routes will be altered to ensure easier and more efficient travel near the construction zone.

Please see the map below for the current pedestrian access plan as of Nov. 4.