After decades of planning and delays, Chicago Transit Authority has officially begun construction on the long-awaited Red Line Extension, a $5.7 billion megaproject aimed at expanding rail access to the city’s Far South Side.
City officials, alongside the Walsh-Vinci Transit Community Partners joint venture, broke ground on April 24, signaling a major milestone for one of the largest infrastructure efforts in Chicago’s history. The project, first conceived more than 50 years ago, is expected to significantly improve transit connectivity for underserved neighborhoods.
The 5.5-mile extension will expand service from the existing 95th Street Terminal to near 130th Street, offering residents direct access to the city’s 24-hour Red Line — commonly known as the “L.”
The expansion represents the largest capital project ever undertaken by the CTA and is designed to address longstanding transit gaps on Chicago’s South Side. Four new stations are planned along the route at 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue near 116th Street and 130th Street. Each station will include multimodal infrastructure such as bus connections, bike facilities, pedestrian access and parking.
In addition to the stations, the project includes construction of a new rail yard and supporting infrastructure near 120th Street.
The city selected a joint venture between Walsh Construction and Vinci in 2024 to serve as the design-build contractor for the project.
Construction is already underway, with crews demolishing acquired properties and relocating utilities along the future rail corridor. This spring, work will focus on drilling for track column foundations and pouring concrete to support the elevated structure.
The Red Line Extension is projected to generate more than 12,500 construction jobs, providing a substantial economic boost alongside improved transit access.
Major construction milestones are already scheduled, with station construction expected to begin in 2027. The project’s long timeline reflects both its scale and the complexity of building new rail infrastructure in a dense urban environment.
Despite the recent progress, the project has faced significant political and legal challenges. In October 2025, the federal government under Donald Trump blocked more than $2 billion in funding tied to disputes over diversity and inclusion programs. The funding freeze impacted both the Red Line Extension and the separate Red and Purple Modernization project.
In response, the city filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 17. Just days later, on March 26, the court ordered the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration to resume payments, allowing the project to move forward.
With funding restored and construction underway, Chicago officials say the project is poised to reshape mobility for thousands of residents who have historically lacked direct rail access.
Originally reported by Matthew Thibault, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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