Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), working with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), will begin major construction early next year on a new State/Lake Loop Elevated station, requiring the closure and demolition of the 130-year-old structure now in service.
The existing station will close Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, to allow demolition crews to begin work on a full reconstruction of the busy downtown transit hub. The new station—designed to improve safety, accessibility and passenger flow—will open in 2029, officials said.
The State/Lake stop is one of the oldest in the CTA system and ranks as the agency’s fifth busiest station. Located in the heart of the Loop, it serves as a key transfer point for multiple rail lines. CDOT says the replacement facility will include wider platforms, full ADA accessibility through new elevators, upgraded lighting, improved sightlines, and a signature glass canopy.
During construction, trains on the Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines, as well as the Purple Line Express, will not stop at State/Lake. Loop rail service will continue, with riders directed to use nearby fully accessible stations at Washington/Wabash and Clark/Lake.
Officials say the project will modernize a critical piece of the transit network and support long-term growth and ridership in the downtown core.
