CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson joins City departments and sister agencies to celebrate the start of the 2026 construction season, highlighting projects that drive economic development while improving the daily lives of Chicagoans through the Johnson administration’s Build Better Together initiative.
Throughout the week, Mayor Johnson will join City officials, community advocates, and residents in a series of events celebrating infrastructure and neighborhood development projects led by municipal departments and partner agencies.
“Build Better Together is about creating jobs, improving the quality of life for Chicagoans, and ensuring that all communities share in the benefits of our investments,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This week, we will be out across the city, launching new investments that contribute to our work of building safe communities while delivering tangible improvements for Chicagoans. As the construction season begins, my administration remains committed to working in partnership with the community and minimizing disruptions for our residents as we build a better Chicago.”
The construction season officially kicks off today with a streetscape improvement project led by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) at N. Lockwood Ave. and W. Chicago Ave., in the Austin community. Mayor Johnson joined Alderman Emma Mitts (37th Ward), CDOT Acting Commissioner William Cheaks Jr., and CDOT staff to kick off repaving work, highlighting one of the latest Complete Streets improvements, which have contributed to a reduction in traffic fatalities in Chicago.
Fifteen districts—1, 3, 12, 15, 19, 20, 30, 32, 33, 35, 43, 44, 46, 47, and 48—recorded no traffic fatalities during 2025, marking a promising step forward in road safety and a milestone in the Johnson administration’s mission to achieve the citywide Vision Zero initiative.
This achievement coincides with a historic investment in Complete Streets infrastructure during 2025, which included the addition of 26 miles of bike lanes, more than 100 accessibility improvements at bus stops, nearly 100 new pedestrian refuge islands, and over 740 curb extensions.
The full schedule of citywide construction season kickoff events includes:
Chicago Transit Authority | 51st Street Green Line Station Renovation
Tuesday, April 21 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. | 319 E. 51st St.
Public Building Commission | Malcolm X College Site Tour
Wednesday, April 22 | 10:00–10:45 a.m. | 4624 W. Madison St.
Department of Streets and Sanitation | Tree Planting and Pruning
Wednesday, April 22 | 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | 7344 N. Paulina St.
Chicago Department of Aviation | Concourse D Beam Signing
Thursday, April 23 | 12:00–12:45 p.m. | O’Hare Airport
Department of Water Management | Sewer Replacement Project
Friday, April 24 | 10:45–11:30 a.m. | S. Loomis Blvd. and W. 83rd St.
Last year, the City completed significant infrastructure improvements across Chicago, including the repaving of more than 170 miles of residential streets, arterial roads, and alleys; the modernization of street lighting on over 380 blocks; the repair of more than 3,000 sidewalks; the installation of over 6,000 ADA ramps; and the completion of more than 50 blocks of “green streets” to improve drainage in neighborhoods most affected by extreme flooding.
Build Better Together is the Johnson administration’s comprehensive economic development strategy, aimed at driving inclusive and sustainable growth across Chicago’s 77 community areas by promoting improvements that make the city stronger, safer, and more equitable. The initiative seeks to expand opportunities, eliminate barriers to progress, and deliver people-centered investments that enable Chicagoans to live, work, and thrive. Learn more at https://chi.gov/BBT
Read article in Spanish / Leer artículo en español: https://elchicagohispano.com/inicia-temporada-de-construccion-con-eventos-que-destacan-mejoras-en-chicago/
