The city has released its plan for how it’ll close down streets and sidewalks for the Downtown NASCAR race.
The race is set for July 6-7, though the city will need 19 days in all for setting up and then tearing down the course, according to a Wednesday news release. Some closures will begin as early as mid-June.
“Residents and visitors are encouraged to be mindful of the traffic impacts, as well as safety measures in place,” according to the city.
Here is which streets will close and for how long to accommodate the NASCAR event.
NASCAR Closures In Chicago
Pre-Race Activity In Grant Park
- June 10: Ida B. Wells Drive will close from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive starting at 12:01 a.m. to allow for construction of the main viewing areas. Limited parking restrictions will be put in place along southbound Columbus Drive between Jackson and Balbo drives.
- June 19-June 20: Temporary road closure 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on northbound Michigan Avenue from Congress Circle to Jackson Drive to allow for a pedestrian walkway to be installed while viewing structures are being assembled.
- June 26: Northbound traffic lane closure on Congress Circle beginning 8 p.m.
- June 27: Curb lane closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road beginning 7 p.m.
Significant Street Closures
- June 27: Closure of Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive beginning 7 p.m.
- June 28: Closure of Balbo Drice from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore drives starting 8 a.m. Intersection will remain open.
- June 28: Full closure of Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive starting 7 p.m.
- June 29: Southbound lane closure on Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road starting 7 p.m.
- July 1: Closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road starting 1 a.m. Closure of Jackson Drive between Columbus and DuSable Lake Shore drives.
- July 1: Closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road starting 9 p.m. Reopening 6 a.m. July 2.
- July 2: Closure of Congress Circle and entrances at Michigan Avenue, Van Buren Street and Harrison Street beginning 6 a.m.
- July 4: Closure of westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive beginning 9 p.m. Closure of northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive.
- July 5: Closure of northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road beginning 12:01 a.m. Closure of southbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive. Closure of the northbound lane of Indiana Avenue at 13th Street. Closure on Monroe Street between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Race Weekend Street Closures: July 6-7
- Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive
- Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from McFetridge Drive to Randolph Street
- Northbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Jackson Drive
- Southbound Michigan Avenue from Jackson Drive to 8th Street
- Monroe Street from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street
- Roosevelt Road from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue
- Jackson Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
- Congress Circle from Harrison Street to Van Buren Street
- Northbound Indiana Avenue from Roosevelt Road to 13th Street
- Post Place: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive
- Garvey Court: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive
- July 8: Select streets will begin reopening following the conclusion of the event. All street closures are expected to remain in effect as removal of the track wall, fence and viewing structures takes place.
- Note: The priority streets to reopen are DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, and Columbus Drive. Other street closures will remain in effect as removal of the track wall, fence and viewing structures takes place.
- Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will begin reopening 6 a.m. July 8, with all NASCAR-related demobilization activity expected to conclude by end of day July 18.
Streets With Local Access Only for Residents, Businesses And Their Employees
Sidewalks will remain open throughout the setup and teardown (June 10-July 18).
- Southbound Michigan Avenue from Monroe Street to Jackson Drive
- Southbound Michigan Ave. from 8th Street to Roosevelt Road
- 8th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- 9th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- 11th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- Balbo Drive from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- Harrison Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- Ida B. Wells from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- Jackson Boulevard from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Ave
- Van Buren Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
- Monroe Street from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
- Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to Monroe Street
- Northbound Michigan Avenue from 13th Street to 16th Street
- Northbound Indiana Avenue from 14th Street to 16th Street
- Columbus Underpass and the Chicago Lakefront Bicycle Path will remain open throughout the event (this includes Monroe Street and Roosevelt Road).
- Pedestrians traveling west must use and access sidewalk on the north side of Monroe Street, Roosevelt Road or Columbus Drive underpass only.
