NASCAR Chicago Street Race: what to know about street closures
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With 18 days before NASCAR's first-ever street race starts rolling through downtown Chicago, city officials on Tuesday talked more about the restrictions drivers will soon see near Grant Park.
Ida B. Wells Drive already has been closed between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive as crews work to erect a grandstand across from the Buckingham Fountian for the big NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The race weekend comes around on Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and July 2.
The price tag to sit at the grandstand starts at more than $3,000.
"This is our bread and butter," said Chris Pettineo, manager of emergency management services for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. "We do large events. We have a sterling reputation across the nation for such events."
But getting to what NASCAR hopes will be packed seating around the 2.2-mile course means major shutdowns on other downtown and South Loop thoroughfares -including DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
"There will be congestion," Pettineo said.
The big message Tuesday morning was that despite being a major road used by more than 129,000 drivers a day, DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be shut down southbound for nearly a week.
"It just is what it is, you know?" said Pettineo. "But we have done our due diligence."
As to the specific road closures, city officials expect Ida B. Wells Drive, already now closed, to reopen by Monday, July 10.
Balbo Drive will be closed between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive starting Monday, June 19. It should reopen by Thursday, July 13.
Jackson Drive will be closed between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive starting Sunday, June 25. Jackson will then be closed between Columbus and DuSable Lake Shore Drive starting Wednesday, June 28. It should reopen by Monday, July 10.
Columbus Drive will be closed between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive starting Sunday, June 25. It should reopen by Wednesday, July 5.
Congress Plaza Drive will be closed between Harrison and Van Buren streets starting Monday, June 26. It should reopen by Thursday, July 6.
Monroe Street will be closed from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive starting Thursday, June 28. It should reopen by Monday, July 3.
Northbound Michigan Avenue will close between Balbo and Jackson drives starting on Thursday, June 29, and reopen by Wednesday, July 5. Southbound Michigan Avenue will close between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road on Friday, June 30, and reopen by Sunday, July 2.
Roosevelt Road will be closed from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive starting Thusrday, June 29. It should reopen between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive by Monday, July 3, and reopen from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive by Tuesday, July 4.
The biggest upcoming road closure will be southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive, which will be closed from Randolph Street to McFetridge Road starting Wednesday, June 28. City officials expect to reopen those lanes by Tuesday, July 4.
In addition to the total closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph to McFetridge, southbound lanes will be limited starting at North Avenue, going down to one lane near Chicago Avenue, and diverting traffic off at Grand Avenue.
The northbound lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive will close between McFedridge and Randolph drives at 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 1. City officials expect to start reopening those lanes soon after the race on Sunday, July 2.
In addition to the total closure of northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from McFetridge to Randolph, northbound drivers will be down to two lanes at 47th Street, and one lane at 31st Street. All vehicles must exit at the Interstate 55 interchange, except drivers headed to the Museum Campus, who can continue to 18th Street.
City leaders said slowly merging traffic will lead to fewer backups on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
"It would be irresponsible to let four lanes come all the way up to a hard closure, so really it's also part of conditioning people. So in addition to the variable messaging boards, that merging taper – whether or not you're paying attention – really lets people know, okay these closures are coming up, maybe I have to get off and reroute," said Pettineo said.
Meantime, several downtown streets also will be limited to only local access between Monday, June 29 and Monday, July 5:
- 8th Street between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- 9th Street between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- 11th Street between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- Balbo Avenue between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- Harrison Street between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- Ida B. Wells Drive between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- Jackson Boulevard between Wabash and Michigan avenues
- Monroe Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive
- Northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Balbo Drive
- Southbound Michigan Avenue between Monroe and Jackson drives
- Van Buren Street between Wabash and Michigan avenues
While the city has said they will make it a priority to reopen DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, and Columbus Drive as soon as possible after the NASCAR event is over, some lane closures could last until Thursday, July 15 as crews tear down the track walls, fences, and grandstands.
The big message - take public transportation.
Even with all the closures, people will still be able to get to the Museum Campus and to the city's harbors during the race weekend. There will be posted detours.
AVAILABLE RACE DAY ROUTES:
These routes are scheduled to be available; however, additional streets may be closed by the City of Chicago, if deemed necessary:
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive northbound will remain open from South Shore Drive to the Stevenson Expresway merger. To visit the Museum Campus: exit at 31st Street and utilize Fort Dearborn Drive to proceed north and access 18th Drive.
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive southbound will remain open from Hollywood Avenue to Randolph Drive.
- Inner Lake Shore Drive lanes will remain open in both directions.
- Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) lanes will remain open in both directions.
- Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) lanes will remain open in both directions.
- Eisenhower Expressway (1-290) lanes will remain open in both directions.
- Stevenson Expressway (I-55) lanes will remain open in both directions.
In the Loop and the South Loop, the following streets will remain open:
- State Street
- Dearborn Street
- Clark Street
- LaSalle Street
- Wells Street
- Franklin Street
- Upper Wacker Drive
- Lower Wacker Drive
- Randolph Street
- Washington Street
- Madison Street
- Roosevelt Road west of Michigan Avenue
- 18th Drive/Street
- Cermak Road
The Chicago Department of Transportation says repairs on course streets are already complete. According to the permit agreement, NASCAR will be responsible for fixing any damage to city streets after the race.
"We all came to an agreement, signed off, and the course is ready," said Tom Carney, first deputy commissioner of CDOT.
And is OEMC prepared to fulfill another two years of this contract with NASCAR?
"This is a first-time event, and if we didn't get the planning right the first time around, then shame on us," Pettineo said. "We're not going to drop the ball. We can't. We're Chicago."
If you don't have a ticket for the race, so far, NASCAR says you will not be able to view the race from the street.
You can find more information at nascarchicago.com/localinfo.
