New State/Lake Loop Elevated station will replace Chicago’s 130-year-old downtown stop after the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) set out when construction is due to begin in the Loop, as reported by Railway-News.

New State/Lake Loop Elevated station replacement timeline
Photo: CDOT

Timeline of State/Lake Loop Elevated station construction

On Monday, 05 January 2026, the existing State/Lake station will close its doors for good, clearing the way for demolition of the 130-year-old structure.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Under the CDOT State/Lake station project timeline, demolition is scheduled to start once the station shuts, with State/Lake Loop Elevated station construction following shortly afterwards on the same Loop site, according to CTA’s official construction notice.

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In place of one of the oldest remaining stations on the CTA rail network, the New CTA State/Lake station in downtown Chicago is planned as a modern, fully accessible facility. The project focuses on safer, more comfortable passenger circulation with wider platforms, new lifts providing full ADA accessibility, a glass canopy, and upgraded lighting and visibility throughout the station area. The new State/Lake Loop Elevated station is currently expected to welcome passengers in 2029.

CTA Loop service changes during State/Lake station closure

During this New State/Lake Loop Elevated station construction phase, CTA Loop service changes during State/Lake station closure will affect several lines. Trains on the Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines, along with the Purple Line Express, will continue to operate around the Loop, but they will no longer stop at the State/Lake elevated platforms.

Riders will instead be directed to nearby alternatives, including the fully accessible Washington/Wabash and Clark/Lake stations, which are expected to handle State/Lake-related passenger demand during construction.

The Lake Red Line subway station will remain open, and passengers transferring between the Lake Red Line subway and the Loop Elevated rail lines are advised to use Washington/Wabash as the key interchange point throughout the project, as outlined on the State/Lake station project page.

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