Bike Lanes Rerouted for Evanston Construction

Ahead of high-rise groundbreaking downtown next week.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:06pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph showing the blurred outlines of bicycles and construction equipment on a city street, conveying the disruption and transition of the bike lane rerouting.The temporary rerouting of a downtown bike lane to make way for a major construction project highlights the challenges of balancing urban development and active transportation.Evanston Today

Crews were out over the weekend restriping the two-way bike lane in the 1600 block of Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston to make way for construction equipment needed for the upcoming groundbreaking of the 110-unit Legacy Evanston high-rise development.

Why it matters

The rerouting of the bike lanes is a necessary step to accommodate the construction of a major new residential development in Evanston's downtown area, which has been in the planning stages for nearly a decade. This disruption to the bike infrastructure highlights the challenges of balancing urban development with maintaining safe and accessible transportation options for cyclists.

The details

The temporary bike lane realignment will eliminate parking for cars on the east side of the 1600 block of Chicago Avenue. The groundbreaking for the Legacy Evanston high-rise is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

  • Crews were out on Saturday restriping the two-way bike lane.
  • The groundbreaking for the Legacy Evanston high-rise is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

The players

Legacy Evanston

A 110-unit high-rise development that has been in the planning process for nearly a decade and is set to break ground next week in downtown Evanston.

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What’s next

The new temporary bike lane alignment will remain in place during the construction of the Legacy Evanston high-rise, which is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.

The takeaway

This bike lane rerouting highlights the challenges cities face in balancing the needs of urban development with maintaining safe and accessible transportation infrastructure for cyclists. As Evanston continues to grow, finding ways to accommodate both new construction and active mobility will be an ongoing priority.