CHICAGO — Four long-closed CTA Red Line stations on the city’s North Side — Bryn Mawr, Berwyn, Argyle, and Lawrence — are finally set to reopen next month following a years-long, $2.1 billion modernization project.
The official reopening date is July 20, CTA officials confirmed, marking a major milestone in the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Project that began in 2019. It’s the largest number of station openings at once since 1993, when the Orange Line debuted.
Massive Rebuild Aims To Modernize Aging Infrastructure
The Red Line’s Far North Side infrastructure, originally built over 100 years ago, underwent a full rebuild between Bryn Mawr and Lawrence. This includes new tracks, support structures, bridges, viaducts, and even an upgraded 60-year-old signal system, all intended to improve service reliability.
The Berwyn and Lawrence stations have been closed since 2021, while the Bryn Mawr and Argyle stations operated temporary facilities to serve commuters during construction.
Accessibility And Neighborhood Design Take Priority
All four new stations are now fully ADA-accessible, featuring elevators, escalators, wider platforms, large canopies for weather protection, better lighting, and real-time travel displays.
CTA acting president Nora Leerhsen said the upgrades bring the agency closer to its goal of making every CTA station accessible to riders with disabilities.
Designs were chosen to reflect the identity of each neighborhood. The Argyle station includes refreshed neighborhood signage and replaces the old “Asia on Argyle” sign with modern visuals. The Bryn Mawr station will debut a new entrance on Hollywood Avenue.
Public Space Development To Follow
In a surprising addition, CTA officials revealed that the removal of outdated embankment walls along the newly built tracks has freed up over a mile of space from Ardmore to Lawrence Avenue.
This area is now slated for a new public space project beginning in 2026, which will include:
-
A playground
-
Dog parks
-
A walking path
Construction is expected to finish by 2027, offering more green space in Edgewater and Uptown.
City Officials Applaud The Investment
Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the project for enhancing connectivity and economic vibrancy across neighborhoods, saying the Red Line is “the backbone of our city.”
“This expansion provides residents and working families with convenient and reliable transit that connects people across our great city,” Johnson stated in the CTA announcement.
Are you a regular Red Line commuter or a neighbor of the Berwyn, Argyle, or Lawrence station? Share your thoughts on the new CTA upgrades or any concerns about accessibility and service on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com. Your input matters to our community.
