Explore
Historic government and cultural buildings anchor the western and central sections of the Pedway. You can walk through these municipal basements without stepping outside.
The western and central stretches of the Chicago Pedway connect the city's key administrative buildings. Workers use these tunnels to commute between offices and transit stations during winter weather.
You will find several notable landmarks in this section. Access depends on Best Time to Go. Most of these government concourses close promptly at 5:00 PM on weekdays and are locked on weekends.
30-45 minutesFree public restrooms
Built in 1897 as the first public library, this building features the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome. It connects directly to the Pedway system. This is a common meeting spot for guided tours. It is also one of the few places with free public restrooms.
15 minutesConnects to CTA
The subterranean concourse connects Chicago's government hub directly to the CTA and City Hall. Above ground, the plaza features a famous untitled Picasso sculpture. You can walk through this underground section to see where thousands of daily commuters travel.
10 minutesOpen during business hours
The nerve center of local government is fully integrated into the Pedway tunnels. Local workers use this route to commute indoors. Security guards are present in the building. However, pedestrians can walk through the lower concourse freely during normal business hours.
