Photo by Andrew Bossi

Will reduce traffic lanes on Western Avenue between Addison and Roscoe.

The city began the installation of new water mains on Wednesday, February 25 along Western Avenue, from Addison Street to Roscoe Street.

This construction work is part of a larger project to replace water mains installed more than 100 years ago along Western Avenue. More than six blocks of water mains in the multi-phased project, which began in November 2014, have already been replaced.

The streets will also be resurfaced at the completion of the project. The larger project limits are: on Western from Jones Street to Addison; on Nelson Street from Western to Oakley Avenue; and on Diversey Avenue from Western to Logan Boulevard.

The work starting on Wednesday will first necessitate the closure of the parking lane and one traffic lane in northbound Western in the two blocks between Addison to Roscoe. Construction will then switch to the southbound lanes, closing a parking lane and travel lane to replace another larger main. The work is expected to take about two months to complete.

Motorists are asked to drive cautiously trough the construction zone, and are encouraged to add a few minutes to the travel schedule around the construction, or take alternative North-South routes to avoid traffic delays.

The city plans to replace more than 90 miles of water mains and 22 miles of sewer mains in neighborhoods all across Chicago in 2015