Navy Pier To Shut Down For Two Days Next Week For Work On New Ferris Wheel
(CBS) -- Navy Pier will shut down for two days next week. WBBM's Bob Roberts says you can blame construction.
On New Year's Eve, more than 50,000 people jammed Navy Pier, but the average Tuesday afternoon in January draws a few hundred. That's one reason why the pier has decided to shut down next Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 19-20) to allow the six, 18 ton, 120 foot long legs of the new Ferris wheel to be put into place and connected to its 18 ton center hub.
Spokeswoman Payal Patel says those who work on the pier will be allowed in.
"You can continue to work but they do need to take measures as well," she said.
In other words, hard hats for everyone. Actual construction will take several months.
Once it is done, Patel says a grand 100th birthday party will take place at the pier.