LaSalle
140W
500S
500S
LaSalle is a deep-level underground station on the Blue Line just after it curves east just south of the loop to head due east out on its southern branch to Forest Park. The station was the original southern terminus of the Milwaukee-Dearborn Subway when it opened on February 25, 1951. This lasted until June 22, 1958 when the extension in the median of the Congress Expressway opened and the Blue Line was extended through to Clinton. The station has as single island platform for the two track line. This island platform is dark and hasn't been renovated. A series of cream colored I-beam columns run along both platform edges. These hold up an arched ceiling above the actual platform that has dim florescent lights running down the middle of it. Signage is modern L's along the platform columns plus older signs hanging from the ceiling that have LaSalle written in white text (designed to be illuminated) with a blue border. The station has a single exit at the eastern end of the platform, here two escalators, one for each direction, side-by-side and a staircase at the extreme end of the platform lead up to a small mezzanine just below street level. Here is the one set of turnstiles and four streetstairs lead out to the surface. Two on each side of Congress Parkway between LaSalle Street and Clark Street. These streetstairs have been rebuilt and are modern retro glass kiosks with black beam work.
All photos taken on 3 July, 2013
