It’s been a long time.

The Wacker Drive reconstruction has been frustrating downtown drivers with closed streets, detours and construction for 19 months. But now the end is in sight as the Revive Wacker Drive project enters its final phase.

Late Friday evening, two lanes of Adams Street reopened to traffic for the first time since January 5th, 2012, while Monday, the project moves down to it’s furthest point south–Van Buren Street.

In addition, Congress Expressway exit ramp onto northbound Franklin Street will be re-opening Monday night.

Monday morning, Van Buren will be closed as the final cross street intersecting Wacker Drive that has yet to be worked on. Demolition of the existing structure and reconstruction of the new roadway should begin soon there.

According to officials within the Chicago Department of Transportation, the portion of the roadway around Van Buren will be completed by year’s end and marking the completion of the Revive Wacker Drive Project.

The massive two year, $300 million project remains on schedule and on budget as it races towards its end of the year finish line.

“The reopening of the Congress exit ramp at Franklin is an important milestone in this final stage of the project,” said CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein. “We expect to complete construction at the end of the year and introduce everyone to a modern, more efficient and safer Wacker Drive.”

Traffic Notes: Downtown drivers should also know about a few changes to traffic configurations near the construction area due to the roadwork beginning Monday.

• Franklin will be converted to a northbound one-way street from Harrison to Van Buren.
• Van Buren will be temporarily converted to a two-way street West of the Chicago River to Canal Street.
• From Canal to Clinton Street, Van Buren’s two-way configuration will be restored.
• Canal will also be temporarily converted to a two-way street from Van Buren to Harrison St.

Go to the Revive Wacker Drive website for more info.