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Yesterday, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) reopened its Kedzie Station — the fifth of eight stations that have been rehabilitated as part of the authority’s $482.6 million renovation of the Cermak (Douglas) branch of the Blue Line.

The station features two entrances, canopies, stations signs, a public-address system and platform benches. The facility also includes an elevator, escalator, wheelchair turnstile, TTY telephones, tactile edging and Braille signs. Before the station rehabilitation project began, only three of the 11 stations along the branch were accessible; when the project is complete, all stations will be accessible.

During the station rehabilitation, CTA restored the facility’s original façade and incorporated it into the new station.

The three stations still under construction are expected to open during the next several months. The authority still needs to upgrade signal and communications, finish building a new substation, install two new escalators at Polk Station and reinforce foundations at 55 grade crossings.

CTA began rehabilitating the century-old, 6.6-mile Cermak (Douglas) branch of the Blue Line in September 2001. Construction is scheduled to be complete in January 2005.