Chicago Construction News staff writer
Mayor Brandon Johnson is marking the start of Construction Season 2026 with a week of citywide events highlighting infrastructure projects aimed at boosting economic development and improving quality of life for residents across Chicago under his Build Better Together initiative.
Speaking Monday at the kickoff in the Austin community, Johnson said the initiative is designed to “create jobs, improve the quality of life for Chicagoans, and ensure every community shares in the benefits of our investments.”
“Build Better Together is about creating jobs, improving the quality of life for Chicagoans, and ensuring every community shares in the benefits of our investments,” Johnson said. “As construction season gets underway, my administration remains committed to working in partnership with community while minimizing disruptions for our residents as we build a better Chicago.”
Construction season officially began with a Chicago Department of Transportation-led streetscape and resurfacing project at North Lockwood Avenue and West Chicago Avenue. Johnson was joined by Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), Acting CDOT Commissioner William Cheaks Jr., and staff from the Chicago Department of Transportation to highlight Complete Streets improvements that officials say have contributed to reduced traffic fatalities.
City officials noted that 15 wards — including 1, 3, 12, 15, 19, 20, 30, 32, 33, 35, 43, 44, 46, 47 and 48 — recorded zero traffic fatalities in 2025, which the administration called a milestone in its broader Vision Zero road safety strategy.
The city also pointed to major Complete Streets investments completed last year, including 26 miles of bikeways, more than 100 bus stop accessibility upgrades, nearly 100 pedestrian refuge islands and more than 740 curb extensions.
Throughout the week, Johnson will appear at a series of infrastructure and development events across the city, including:
- The Chicago Transit Authority’s 51st Street Green Line Station refresh and relaunch Tuesday at 319 E. 51st St.
- A hard hat tour of Malcolm X College Wednesday at Malcolm X College, located at 4624 W. Madison St.
- A tree planting and trimming event led by the Department of Streets and Sanitation Wednesday at 7344 N. Paulina St.
- A beam signing for Concourse D at O’Hare International Airport Thursday.
- A sewer replacement project led by the Chicago Department of Water Management Friday near S. Loomis Blvd. and W. 83rd St.
The 2025 construction season delivered more than 170 miles of street and alley resurfacing, modernization of street lighting across more than 380 blocks, repairs to over 3,000 sidewalks, installation of more than 6,000 ADA ramps and completion of more than 50 blocks of green alleys.
Johnson’s Build Better Together strategy is aimed at coordinating economic development and infrastructure investment across Chicago’s 77 community areas, with a focus on equity, job creation and neighbourhood-level improvements.
