(Above) A window at Hotel Palomar provides this unique view of workers renovating the CTA Red Line station at Grand & State. With no roof obstructing the view, we can see new granite stairs at lower left leading down to the mezzanine level. (Click on image to view larger version.)

April 18, 2010 – After sitting idle over the winter, work has resumed on the $67 million renovation of the CTA Red Line station at Grand Avenue and State Street. The upper mezzanine and lower platform levels of the station are being rebuilt to accommodate more riders.

Eventually, work will switch from the northwest corner of the intersection to the northeast corner, and be completed by the end of 2010, according to Chicago Department of Transportation.

State Street is still reduced to one northbound lane between Illinois Street and Ohio Street. Southbound traffic on State Street must turn east onto Ohio. Grand Avenue, meanwhile, is reduced to two westbound lanes from Wabash Avenue to Dearborn Street.

Pedestrians walking on State cannot cross Grand on the west side of State but can cross on the east side. CDOT says it will stay like that through the spring.

The station was constructed in 1943 and this is its first major update.

 Related story: Construction of Grand & State Red Line station to sit tight over winter