While it's exciting that work is underway on the snazzy new Belmont Blue Line station that was first announced back in 2016, anyone who regularly commutes to the Loop via the Avondale station has a rough month ahead of them. The CTA is making way for renovations to the platform, which means that you won't be able to board or disembark from Forest Park-bound trains at Belmont through September 25.
For the past few weeks, Blue Line trains traveling North toward O'Hare have been bypassing the Belmont station to accommodate work on the platform. Now, crews are adding new light fixtures and wall coverings to the other side of the platform, sending Forest Park-bound travelers to the Logan Square or Addison stations.
The renovation of the Belmont station is part of the CTA's ongoing Your New Blue modernization project, which has devoted $492 million to updating the North Side train line. According to an estimate released in 2016, the Belmont station upgrade will cost $15 million. In the coming years, the Grand, Chicago, Division, Logan Square and Jefferson Park stations are all in line for renovations.
According to the CTA, the Belmont Blue Line station will reopen to Forest Park-bound trains at 4am on September 25. Once this work is complete, we'll likely find out when the CTA plans to begin work on the soaring glass and steel structure (pictured in the above rendering) that will house the entrance to the renovated station—here's hoping that its construction doesn't lead to a temporary closure of the station.
Blue Line riders, remember: Until Sept 25, Blue Line trains toward downtown and Forest Park now bypass Belmont Station (except when trains share single track via other track) for station improvements. Map, alternative travel recommendations and more: https://t.co/N7bgsetiZs pic.twitter.com/DZKBNCBegB
— cta (@cta) September 5, 2018