Chicago to rebuild historic State/Lake station with full accessibility, reopening in 2029
Construction is set to begin on Chicago’s historic State/Lake Loop Elevated station, with the existing 130-year-old facility closing on Monday, January 5, 2026. The project, led by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) in partnership with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), will replace one of the city’s oldest stations with a modern, fully accessible rail hub designed to improve safety, comfort, and convenience for riders.
The new State/Lake station, scheduled to open in 2029, will feature wider platforms, elevators for full ADA accessibility, a glass canopy, and upgraded lighting for better visibility. Serving as the fifth highest-ridership station in the CTA system, it sits at a busy transfer point in the Loop and will accommodate trains on the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Line Express. During construction, trains will no longer stop at State/Lake, but Loop service will continue, and passengers can use nearby Washington/Wabash and Clark/Lake stations. The Lake Red Line subway station will remain open, with transfers via Washington/Wabash.
Preparatory work for the station demolition will begin on December 8, 2025, with eastbound Lake Street between State Street and Wabash Avenue intermittently closed during off-peak hours. Once the station closes in January, Lake Street will be limited to local traffic between Dearborn Street and Wabash Avenue, while State Street’s southbound lanes will remain closed from Wacker Drive to Washington Street, with northbound lanes restored to reduce congestion. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction, with marked detours in place, and CTA bus stops along State Street will remain operational.
The State/Lake redevelopment aims to create a safer, more accessible, and visually appealing station for tens of thousands of daily riders, ensuring that one of Chicago’s busiest transit hubs meets modern standards for comfort and efficiency while supporting the Loop’s complex rail network.
Image: Chicago Transit Authority