Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA rider checks the new service time sign at the 87th Street Station.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiRiders board Red Line shuttle buses at the CTA 95th Street Station early on the first work day of the Red Line South reconstruction project.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiShuttle buses redirect Red Line riders to the CTA Green Line Garfield station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiRails are stacked along the CTA Red Line route at 59th Street on Wednesday, about a month into the CTA Red Line South reconstruction project. Most of the rails have been removed from the Cermak-Chinatown Station to 95th Street and stations are being renovated.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA crew member surveys the track north of the CTA 95th Street Station.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiMontrice Hagan, left, a Chicago Transit Authority customer service assistant, guides commuters exiting the R79 bus arriving from 79th and the Dan Ryan Expressway to the CTA Garfield Green Line station.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiAn information poster about the temporary closing of the Red Line on the South Side hangs at the Cermak-Chinatown station Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Chicago. The Red Line South Reconstruction Project began at 2 a.m. Sunday, May 19.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA truck cab is hooked to a tow truck after it hit the wall, damaging the newly reopened CTA red line just north of 69th Street.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiCommuters arrive by special buses at the CTA Garfield Green Line station. Today marks the first work day without the CTA Red Line from 95th to Chinatown.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiCommuters arrive by special buses at the CTA Garfield Green Line station. Today marks the first work day without the CTA Red Line from 95th to Chinatown.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiK9 patrols keep watch over the stop at 79th Street.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiConstruction crews begin preliminary work north of the 79th Street CTA Red Line station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. Buses will shuttle riders to the Garfield CTA Green Line station to board redirected Red Line trains and expanded bus service during the project. (
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiEarly morning commuters ride the newly reopened CTA red line at the 95th Street station on Oct. 20.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA group of men who normally take the Red LIne wait to enter a shuttle bus heading north from the 95th/Dan Ryan station early Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Chicago. The Red Line is closed for five months on the South Side, due to a reconstruction project from the Cermak-Chinatown stop to 95th Street.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA CTA employee, left, helps guide commuters onto an inbound CTA Green Line at the Garfield Station in Chicago.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiRiders wait to board Red Line shuttle buses at the CTA 95th Street Station early on the first work day of the Red Line South reconstruction project.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiRiders aboard Red Line shuttle buses at the CTA 95th Street Station.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiCTA President Forrest Claypool (right) and CTA board chairman Terry Peterson talk with reporters at the CTA Green Line Garfield station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiA construction crew boards up the south entrance to the 79th Street CTA Red Line station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. Buses will shuttle riders to the Garfield CTA Green Line station to board redirected Red Line trains and expanded bus service during the project.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiEliana Womack, 17, applies makeup as she waits with other commuters for the inbound CTA Green Line train at the CTA Garfield station. Womack is a Lincoln Park High School student who uses the CTA Red Line train and said she had to give herself 30 extra minutes for her new route.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiA northbound train pulls out of the 47th Street station.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiRodney Lawson mans the controls during the test run of the CTA Red Line South Branch in Chicago.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA family checks out the renovated 63rd Street Station from the adjacent overpass.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiThe CTA Red Line reopened for business all the way to the end of the line at 95th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Zbigniew Bzdak / baiduhaiJohn Zupko is behind controls during a test run of the CTA Red Line South Branch.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiMartes Carr, 25, right, rides the CTA red line south on the first weekday that the CTA's Red Line is open for business after being closed for a five-month reconstruction.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA man waves while boarding the final northbound Red Line train (at about 1:50 a.m.) from the 95th/Dan Ryan station early Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Chicago. The Red Line South Reconstruction Project began at 2 a.m. and will last for five months.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiWorkers move equipment into place.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiDevonte Goss, 2, stands on his seat watching the world go by after boarding the Red Line train at Roosevelt Road, heading south to 95th Street.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiCommuters pour into the 95th Street Station.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiMontrice Hagan left, Chicago Transit Authority customer service assistant, guides commuters exiting the R79 bus arriving from 79th and the Dan Ryan Expressway to the CTA Garfield Green Line station.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiCommuters on the outbound CTA Green Line at the Garfield Station. Monday marks the first work day without the CTA Red Line from 95th to Chinatown.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiRodney Lawson mans the controls during the test run of the CTA Red Line South Branch in Chicago.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiRiders gather outside the CTA Green Line Garfield station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiCraig Morris walks past a turnstile while boarding up the entrance to the 95th/Dan Ryan station platform early Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Chicago. The station will be closed for the next five months, due to the Red Line reconstruction project.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiThe final northbound Red Line train leaves the 95th/Dan Ryan station at 1:52 a.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Chicago. The Red Line South Reconstruction Project began at 2 a.m.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiThe north entrance to the 79th Street CTA Red Line station is closed as crews prepare to board the doors early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. Buses will shuttle riders to the Garfield CTA Green Line station to board redirected Red Line trains and expanded bus service during the project.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiA Red Line train waits at the station as the South branch reopened for business.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiCars zip by on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiRiders exit at 47th Street.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiThe CTA's Erica Jones (left) and a CTA supervisor (center) help Red Line rider Lisa Molette (right, with directions outside the CTA Green Line Garfield station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiA passenger waits to board the CTA Red Line at 95th Street.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiEarly morning commuters ride the newly reopened CTA red line at the 95th Street station on Oct. 20.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiMayor Rahm Emanuel, middle, CTA President Forrest Claypool, second from right, and CTA board chairman Terry Peterson, right, talk to workers as they tour the 47th Street Red Line Station before providing an update on the Red Line South reconstruction project in Chicago.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiPassengers board the CTA Red Line when it reopened.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiWorkers survey track damage on the CTA red line north of 69th Street. A truck cab crashed into a barrier on the Dan Ryan Expressway overnight, striking a section of CTA Red Line rail. The Red Line south section reopened for the first rush hour since closing for the months-long reconstruction project.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiSammielynn Williams travels with Malia Parker, 3, the daughter of a friend, from the Morse stop on the far north to 95th street on the south. She timed her trip and said she shaved half hour off her time.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiDennis Cheatams and David Jefferson (from left) check the schedule for their commute home as they head to work on a Red Line shuttle bus from the CTA Green Line Garfield station early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project. (
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiRiders board Red Line shuttle buses at the CTA 95th Street Station.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiRiders hustle to get on the northbound train at 35th Street.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiEarly morning commuters ride the newly reopened CTA red line at the 95th Street station on Oct. 20.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiMelvin Henley boards up the entrance to the 95th/Dan Ryan station platform shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday in Chicago. The Red Line South Reconstruction Project, which began at 2 a.m., will last for five months, closing all stations from Cermak-Chinatown to 95th Street during this time.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiMayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn participate in a test run of the Red Line before the opening of the South Branch in Chicago.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiTemporary station additions including outside stairways and free turnstiles speed redirected Red Line riders onto the CTA Green Line Garfield station platform early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiCommuters, coming right off of special buses, arrive to the CTA Garfield Green Line station.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiBus Operations supervisor George Carter helps confused riders with directions as they board Red Line shuttle buses at the CTA 95th Street Station early on the first work day of the Red Line South reconstruction project.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiThe CTA Red Line construction works continues near 87th Street station in Chicago.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiEarly morning commuters ride the newly reopened CTA red line at the 95th Street station on Oct. 20.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiCraig Morris (left) and Melvin Henley board up the entrance to the 95th/Dan Ryan station platform early Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Chicago. The Red Line South Reconstruction Project on the South Side will last for five months.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiA sign extolls the new features as the CTA Red Line reopened for business.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiThe Red Line South reconstruction project at the 47th Street station in Chicago.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiMayor Rahm Emanuel, right, CTA President Forrest Claypool, left, and CTA board chairman Terry Peterson, middle, tour the 47th Street Red Line Station before providing an update on the Red Line South reconstruction project in Chicago.
Michael Tercha / baiduhaiTemporary station additions including outside stairways and free turnstiles speed redirected Red Line riders onto the CTA Green Line Garfield station platform early on the first day of the Red Line South reconstruction project Sunday, May 19, 2013. The Garfield station is the hub of redirected Red Line trains and bus shuttles during the project.
Michael Tercha, baiduhai
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A rider checks the new service time sign at the 87th Street Station.
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A truck cab crashed into a barrier on the Dan Ryan Expressway and struck a section of the newly minted third rail of the Red Line overnight, but the damage was repaired and trains were running this morning.
The accident happened in the southbound expressway near 68th Street around 10 p.m. Sunday, the first day of the reopening of the south branch of the Red Line after a five-month reconstruction. Trains were slowing to 35 mph through the crash site this morning.
CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said the rail will be replaced Monday night, allowing trains to run up to 55 mph on that stretch Tuesday.
The truck cab landed on the CTA side of the barrier, with most of the cab coming to rest between the barrier and the third rail, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said. A car carrier being pulled by the cab remained on the expressway side of the barrier.
The driver was not injured, Langford said.
A portion of the third rail was damaged, prompting the CTA to suspend service on the southbound tracks between 69th and 79th Streets, a CTA spokeswoman said.
Single-tracking was in effect on the northbound portion of the tracks, spokeswoman Catherine Hosinki said. Maintenance workers began repairs shortly after the crash, and the southbound portion of the tracks had reopened by 1:05 a.m.
Residual delays were reported, but normal service was expected to be restored by the morning rush period.
The Illinois State Police briefly shut the southbound portion of the expressway as the truck cab was removed. The lanes reopened afterward, but southbound traffic is being reduced to a single lane overnight, “with that lane subject to full closures nightly” due to construction work on a train overpass, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Twitter: @AdamSege