Updated February 11, 2025

• What is the Milwaukee and Logan Square redesign project?
• Why was this project previously called the Bicentennial Improvement Project?
• Has there been public input for this project?
• When will construction start, and how long will construction take?
• Will construction impact the Logan Square Blue Line stop?
• What impact will construction have on local traffic and businesses?
• How can we support small businesses impacted by construction?
• Will this project improve safety for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians?
• Who made the final decisions on design?
• Can major design changes be made at this juncture?
• Who should I contact if I have additional questions or concerns?

What is the Milwaukee and Logan Square redesign project?

The Milwaukee Avenue and Logan Square redesign project – previously known as the Logan Square Bicentennial Improvement project – is a $27 million-plus investment in Milwaukee Avenue from Belmont Avenue to Logan Square Boulevard. Most notably, the redesign will rework the existing traffic circle at Logan Square and reroute Kedzie Avenue to increase traffic safety, increase outdoor community space in the square and surrounding area, and create a new public plaza at Kedzie, La Placita. This major infrastructure project will include pedestrian, bicycle, and bus stop improvements, as well as new traffic signals, landscaping, and lighting to better suit the needs of our Logan Square and Avondale communities.

Why was this project previously called the Bicentennial Improvement Project?

Logan Square’s famous “Eagle Monument” is the Illinois Centennial Monument, erected in 1918 to commemorate one hundred years of Illinois’ statehood. In 2014, as we approached Illinois’ bicentennial, area residents began advocating for the “Bicentennial Improvement Project” (BIP), a redesign of the square, Kedzie Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Illinois’ admission to the Union. In 2015, following his election, Alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa met with residents advocating for the Bicentennial Improvement Project, and he decided to champion the BIP. Alderperson Ramirez-Rosa presented the BIP proposal to then-Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner and secured their support for the project. With the support of City Hall secured, Alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa worked with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to convene a Project Study Group of local stakeholders, including businesses, neighborhood organizations, and residents, to determine the complete design. Illinois’ bicentennial passed, but work on the project continued. Today, the project is sometimes referred to as the Milwaukee Avenue (Belmont to Logan) Streetscape project, the Logan Square traffic circle redesign project, and the Milwaukee Avenue and Logan Square redesign project. Regardless of the name, this project results from years of community advocacy and a collaborative effort to improve our public spaces.

Has there been public input for this project?

This project is the direct result of community advocacy and input. Logan Square Preservation began advocating for a square redesign in the 1980s. The early 2000s saw renewed interest in redesigning the square, and a decade ago, residents began advocating for the Bicentennial Improvement Project proposal. Today’s project came to fruition after a years-long community input process and overwhelming support from area residents. In 2017, Alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa worked with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to convene a Project Study Group of local stakeholders, including businesses, neighborhood organizations, and residents, to identify improvements along Milwaukee from Belmont to Logan Square Boulevard and discuss changes to Logan Square and Kedzie. Traffic engineers observed how pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists interacted in the space, took measurements, and collected data. Public meetings were held in 2017 and 2018 to share preliminary findings and design ideas and to gather input on design and use from area residents. As part of this process, CDOT and Alderperson Ramirez-Rosa held six meetings, including three stakeholder and three large public meetings. After incorporating extensive public feedback from these meetings, CDOT finalized designs that include more pedestrian safety measures, new public outdoor gathering spaces, and business amenities such as expanded space for sidewalk cafes.

When will construction start, and how long will construction take?

Construction began on Milwaukee Avenue between Davlin Court and Central Park Avenue on the south side of the street at the beginning of April 2024. Work along Milwaukee Avenue will be completed in phases, extending south down Milwaukee and looping north along Milwaukee's north side. Work on the Logan Square redesign portion of the project began in the summer of 2024, beginning with the reroute of Kedzie Avenue and the creation of La Placita, the new pedestrian plaza to the east of the Logan Square Blue Line entrance. This major project comprises nine construction segments, each taking approximately three months to complete. The contractor will build some of these segments concurrently, and the city hopes construction will be complete by the summer of 2026.

Major work in the 2025 construction season is expected to begin in early March (weather permitting). Milwaukee Avenue roadway work will begin on the South side of Milwaukee Avenue, between Diversey Avenue and the new Kedzie Avenue. This work will include the removal of the existing curb and gutter, installation of an electrical conduit for new street lights, installation of the new curb and gutter, replacing the mainline sidewalk, and installing new street lights. Once construction is completed on the south side, work will shift to the north side.

Around Logan Square proper, work will also begin early in March of 2025, with the closure of Milwaukee Avenue through the square and work on the lanes closest to the square. The work on the exterior of the square will consist of curb and gutter removals and the excavation of the old Milwaukee Avenue. Within the Square, we will see some electrical conduit work and irrigation installation. Once work is completed on the inside lanes, work will shift to the outside lanes.

Will construction impact the Logan Square Blue Line stop?

The Logan Square Blue Line station will remain open during construction, though the entrance on the north side of Milwaukee Avenue may have limited access during a period. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) plans to renovate the Logan Square Blue Line entrance on the north side of Milwaukee Avenue. Alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is working with the CTA to ensure the Logan Square Blue Line entrance renovation will not burden riders during construction.

What impact will construction have on local traffic and businesses?

Partial street closures and sidewalk construction will occur throughout the project's duration. Once construction dates are finalized, the 35th Ward Office will provide advance notice to residents and businesses. While this project promises long-term benefits for our community, short-term inconveniences may affect local businesses, particularly those with sidewalk cafes. Alderperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is working closely with the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce and the Chicago Department of Transportation to minimize the impact of construction on traffic and local businesses. We advise businesses who choose to renew their sidewalk permits in 2025 to contact our office to learn more about potential construction impacts as there could be a period during the permit's life when construction may limit sidewalk access. Businesses may have to remove materials from the public way due to construction.

How can we support small businesses impacted by construction?

Please continue to shop locally during construction. Small businesses always need your support, particularly during significant infrastructure projects that impact their operations. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa is working closely with the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce to support our small business during construction. Alderman Ramirez-Rosa has mailed a letter about this project to 2,800 area households, encouraging area residents to patronize local businesses throughout construction. He is also working with the Chamber to provide signs announcing that businesses are open during construction. The Chamber is creating a postcard for distribution and will use social media to promote that area businesses are still open during construction. Lastly, The Chamber and Alderman Ramirez-Rosa have created a Working Group of small business owners in the area to workshop additional ideas on how to continue supporting small businesses during construction.

Will this project improve safety for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians?

Yes. This project will include protected bike lanes around the new traffic circle at Logan Square and going north along Kedzie Avenue. Along Milwaukee Avenue, the project will consist of dashed bike lanes. This project will include many pedestrian safety improvements, including raised crosswalks, pedestrian curb extensions, and wider sidewalks. Additionally, cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers will benefit from new lighting throughout the square and Milwaukee Avenue. Milwaukee Avenue will be closed at the square to create a new public plaza, and Kedzie will be rerouted to create a new outdoor space for people to gather, La Placita. In 2018, Streetsblog Chicago referred to the Logan Square traffic circle redesign as a “progressive remix.”

Who made the final decisions on design?

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) made design decisions after an extensive study of the area and a robust community input process. The Illinois Department of Transportation then reviewed CDOT's design, a process that took several years.

Can major design changes be made at this juncture?

No. Construction has begun on this project, and the contractor was awarded the project via a competitive bidding process that laid out the scope of the design; this means that significant design changes are not logistically or legally possible at this juncture.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions or concerns?

If you have additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the 35th Ward Office at 773-985-3510 or [email protected].

Where can I find more information on the project?

You can find more information on this project on the project site, which can be found here.