Transportation
Chicago Starts Work on $5.7B Red Line Extension
The JV of Walsh Construction and VINCI was selected in 2024 as design-build contractor for the 5.5-mile-long project.
The Chicago Transit Authority has broken ground on the 5.5-mile Red Line extension, which is touted as the largest capital project in the agency's history.
After nearly 60 years of discussion, Chicago has broken ground on the $5.7-billion Red Line Extension planned to provide rapid rail transit to the city’s far south side and touted as the largest capital project in the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) history.
The extension will cover 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street and will include the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan and 130th streets. In addition, a new rail yard and related rail facilities near 120th Street are planned to improve operational efficiency for the entire Red Line and CTA system.
Chicago-based Walsh Construction and French contractor VINCI are serving as design-build contractor for the project that broke ground on April 24.
Work has already started to prepare the project for construction including demolition of acquired properties and relocation of utility poles and other equipment where the new track will be built.
Advance construction work has already started, including demolition of properties acquired to build the project and relocation of utility poles and other equipment where the new track will be built.
Upcoming work will include drilling where the new elevated track columns will be placed, pouring concrete to create new track foundations followed by track columns. Station construction is slated to begin in 2027.
Construction is expected to start this spring with work including drilling new elevated track columns, pouring concrete to create the new track foundations followed by installing track columns. Station construction is scheduled to start in 2027, and completion is planned for 2030.
The CTA has contracted with workforce assistance agencies including Chicago Women in Trades, HIRE 360 and Metropolitan Family Services.
CTA and design-build contractor Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners has committed to creating pathways for Chicagoans to receive training and access to jobs on the project.
CTA included goals in the Walsh-VINCI contract to ensure that small businesses certified as Disadvantage Business Enterprises (DBE) could bid on sub-contract work. Those goals are 25% for project design and 22% for project construction.
“Today’s groundbreaking demonstrates our shared commitment to transit equity and opportunity for every Chicagoan," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in a press release. “Far South Side residents have waited decades for this crucial rail service to come to life."
It is expected that the project will create more than 12,500 construction jobs.
