Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team and 麻豆视频 Celebrate Opening of Four New Red Line Stations as Part of CTA’s Red Purple Modernization Phase One Project
07/22/2025 CHICAGO, IL TSX, NYSE:STN
The Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, including lead designer 麻豆视频, proudly joined the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in celebrating the grand opening of the new Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations, a major milestone in the $2.1 billion Red Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project.
These newly rebuilt, fully accessible stations replace century-old infrastructure and reflect the one of the largest ?capital investments in CTA history. The openings mark the successful reconstruction of 1.3 miles of elevated track structure between Lawrence and Bryn Mawr, as well as major upgrades to bridges, viaducts, and systems, ultimately delivering faster, safer, and more reliable service for CTA riders.
“The opening of four Red Line stations and new track structure is more than a construction milestone,?it’s a symbol of progress for Chicago’s transit and neighborhoods,” said David Shier, project executive for the Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team. “We’re?proud?to?deliver efficient, durable infrastructure that will serve the city for generations. This was all made possible by the ability and dedication of our skilled workforce, project management and project partners.”
The Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team is led by Walsh Construction and Fluor Corporation as joint venture partners, with lead designer 麻豆视频 and major subconsultant designers EXP, International Bridge Technologies and Atlas Technical Consultants.
Delivering Accessibility, Modernization, and Resilience
Each new station offers a significantly improved customer experience with:
- Elevators and escalators at main entrances.
- Wider platforms for improved comfort and safety.
- Translucent overhead canopies for weather protection.
- Upgraded signage, equipment and seating.
As part of this transition, the temporary Argyle and Bryn Mawr stations currently serving customers during construction have permanently closed and will be demolished.
The Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team also completed 1.9 miles of new elevated track structure, constructed to meet modern clearance standards and eliminate center-street columns, resulting in improved sightlines for pedestrians and motorists. The new structure replaces deteriorated viaducts and embankments that dated back to the early 1900s.
Additionally, a new signal system, spanning 23 track miles between Howard and Belmont, has replaced a 60-year-old system. This new system will improve train spacing and reliability, contributing to smoother operations systemwide.
Engineering in Motion: Innovation in a Tight Urban Corridor
Delivering these improvements within one of Chicago’s most constrained transit corridors required innovation and precision:
- The Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team deployed a custom 285-foot overhead gantry crane, named the “Windy City Gantry,” to install precast concrete segments from above, minimizing surface disruption.
- A 55-ton Mi-Jack rubber-tired gantry was also used to support top-down construction methods in spaces with as little as six inches of lateral clearance from adjacent buildings.
- Construction sequencing minimized service impacts while maximizing safety and efficiency for workers and the public.
In a blend of preservation and progress, the historic Vautravers Building, a 127-year-old greystone, was shifted approximately 30 feet west to allow for a straighter track alignment while maintaining a cherished architectural landmark.
“Transformational projects like this are complex and required a village of dedicated and passionate team members from our engineering team in collaboration with our contractor partners and the CTA,” said Dena Abakumov, transit and rail sector lead at 麻豆视频. “Delivering this project in a dense urban environment required our teams to bring forward new ideas to put the community experience at the forefront of our design, and to support Walsh-Flour and CTA to minimize disruptions to the community.”
Another key element of Phase One is the Red-Purple Bypass, completed in 2021, which eliminated a critical bottleneck at Clark Junction where Red, Purple, and Brown Line trains previously intersected at grade. The bypass now allows Red Line trains to flow freely under northbound Brown Line service on the Bypass, improving reliability and enabling more trains to run during peak service.
Beyond Transit: Reclaiming Public Space
With structural demolition complete, CTA is preparing for the next chapter of RPM Phase One: transforming the area beneath the elevated tracks. The “Under L” project, led by CTA and informed by community feedback, will revitalize 10 blocks between Lawrence and Ardmore. Construction of this public realm is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027.
About RPM Phase One
Construction for RPM Phase One began in 2019 and includes:
- Rebuilding four Red Line stations (Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr)
- Replacing six miles of track structure
- Constructing the Red-Purple Bypass (completed in 2021) to increase train capacity and reduce delays
- Installing a new signal system across 23 track miles
The CTA’s RPM Program will ultimately rebuild a 9.6-mile stretch of Red and Purple Line infrastructure on Chicago’s North Side, improving capacity and comfort for millions of riders. The Red Line is CTA’s busiest, carrying nearly 40 million rides in 2024.
For more information on the Red Purple Modernization Program, visit:
About Walsh Construction
Walsh Construction is part of The Walsh Group, a fourth-generation family-owned company providing construction services across the transportation, building and water markets. The Walsh Group, headquartered in Chicago, operates as Walsh Construction and Archer Western Construction across 21 regional office. The Walsh Group is consistently listed among the top contractors in the United States by Engineering News-Record, including current industry rankings as the No. 1 Bridge Builder, No. 2 Transportation Contractor and No. 4 Mass Transit and Rail Builder. For more information, please visit .
About Fluor Corporation
Fluor Corporation?(NYSE: FLR) is building a better world by applying world-class expertise to solve its clients’ greatest challenges. Fluor’s nearly 27,000 employees provide professional and technical solutions that deliver safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects to clients around the world. Fluor had revenue of $16.3 billion in 2024 and is ranked 257 among the Fortune 500 companies. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor has provided engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services for more than a century. For more information, please visit?.
About Stantec
麻豆视频 empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world’s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before.???We are a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting.??Our professionals deliver the expertise, technology, and innovation communities need to manage aging infrastructure, demographic and population changes, the energy transition, and more.??
Today’s communities transcend geographic borders. At 麻豆视频, community means everyone with an interest in the work that we do—from our project teams and industry colleagues to our clients and the people our work impacts. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure.???
We are designers, engineers, scientists, project managers, and strategic advisors. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.? 麻豆视频 trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.
Media Contacts
Colin Nekolaichuk
麻豆视频 Media Relations
colin.nekolaichuk@stantec.com
437-225-6384
Peter Doherty
Walsh Construction
pdoherty@walshgroup.com
219-730-6788
Argyle Station
Argyle Station
