David G. Clark, an expert on Route 66 in the Chicago area, reports that a portion of eastbound Jackson Boulevard, aka Route 66, in Chicago will be closed to traffic until April 2010 for bridge repairs.
Clark makes some suggestions on his blog:
What does this mean to the Route 66 traveler? Well, if you drive into Chicago on Route 66 eastbound, you will be unaffected all the way to the block that contains Lou Mitchell’s restaurant. You will then need to detour, either by turning south at Clinton Street or north at Canal Street. I would suggest that the best detour would likely be south on Clinton one block to Van Buren, east (left) on Van Buren across the river to Wacker Drive, north (left) on Wacker back to Jackson, then east (right) on Jackson the rest of the way to the end of 66 at Lake Shore Drive. Westbound Route 66 will not be affected, since it travels on Adams Street.
The closure of that portion of street began today, according to the Chicago Tribune.