Metra kicks off renovation of Union Station's Madison Street entrance

This week, Metra will start construction on a renovation of the Madison Street entrance to Chicago Union Station.

Today, the commuter railroad begins fencing off parts of the area so that work can proceed.

The $826,000 project is being overseen by Jones Lang LaSalle, which manages the property. The work includes repairing pavers, stairs and the ceiling, along with making other cosmetic improvements to the entrance.

Much of the work is expected to occur at night and on weekends to minimize the impact on riders, Metra officials said in a press release.

Chicago-based Bear Construction will perform the work on the Madison Street entrance, which provides access to the north ends of platforms for Metra's Milwaukee North and West lines, as well as its North Central Service. More than 16,000 passengers move through the entrance each weekday.

The entire project is expected to take four months to complete.