Several “significant” road closures have already been implemented for the 2024 NASCAR Chicago street race, which will take place over the Fourth of July weekend in and around Grant Park.
But the biggest problem, the closure of busy DuSable Lake Shore Drive in both directions, is yet to come.
The 2024 two-mile course, which includes parts of iconic Chicago streets such as DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and Congress Plaza Drive, is a 12-turn route near the lakefront. Races will take place July 6 and 7, with setup and teardown expected to take a total of 19 days.
Beginning Monday, July 1, closures will be in effect on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, according to officials.
At 9 p.m., southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road will close briefly, and the road will reopen at 6 a.m. the next day.
At 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, portions of the Drive will see more permanent roadblocks, with westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road closed between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive will also be closed at that time.
According to officials, a full closure of portions of northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will go into effect at midnight on Friday, July 5. The closures are detailed below:
- Closure of north and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. between Randolph St. and McFetridge Rd.
- Southbound Michigan Ave. closure between Roosevelt Rd. and Jackson Dr.
- Northbound lane closure of Indiana Ave. at 13th St.
- Closure on Monroe St. between Columbus Dr. and DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
The northbound section of DuSable Lake Shore Drive will reopen on Monday, July 8 at 6 a.m., with some streets gradually reopening after the conclusion of the event, officials said.
Priority will be given to reopening DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.
Street closures will remain in effect until the track wall, fencing and viewing structures are demobilized. All NASCAR-related demobilization activities are expected to be completed by the end of the day on July 18.
Below is a list of all the “major” closures for the race and a timeline of when they will or will go into effect:
‘Significant’ NASCAR street closures in Chicago
- Thursday 6/27 at 7 p.m. – Closure of Jackson Dr. between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Dr.
- Friday 6/28 at 8am – Closure of Balbo Dr. from Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr. (intersection will remain open).
- Friday 6/28 at 7 p.m. – Complete closure of Balbo Dr. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.
- Saturday 6/29 at 8 p.m. – Northbound and southbound lane closures on Columbus Dr. from Jackson Dr. to Balbo
- Monday, July 1st at 9pm – Closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. between Randolph St. and McFetridge Rd. Reopening at 6 a.m. July 2.
- Tuesday 7/2 at 6 am – Closure of Congress Circle and entrances on Michigan Ave., Van Buren St. and Harrison St.
- Thursday 4/7 at 9pm – Closure of Roosevelt Rd west and eastbound. between Michigan Ave. and DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Closure of northbound Michigan Ave. between Roosevelt Rd. and Jackson Dr.
- Friday 5/7 at 12:01 am – Northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. closure between Randolph St. and McFetridge Rd. Southbound Michigan Ave. closure between Roosevelt Rd. and Jackson Dr. Indiana Ave. northbound lane closure at 13th St. . Closure of Monroe St. between Columbus Dr. and DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Street closures in Chicago on July 6 and 7
- DuSable Lake Shore Dr. south from Randolph St. to McFetridge Dr.
- North on DuSable Lake Shore Dr. from McFetridge Dr. to Randolph St.
- Northbound Michigan Ave. from Roosevelt Rd. to Jackson Dr.
- Michigan Ave. southbound from Jackson Dr. to 8th St.
- Monroe St. from Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
- Columbus Dr. from Roosevelt Rd. to Monroe St.
- Roosevelt Street. from DuSable Lake Shore Dr. to Michigan Ave.
- Jackson Dr. from Michigan Ave. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
- Balbo Dr. from Michigan Ave. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
- Ida B. Wells Dr. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.
- Congress Circle from Harrison St. to Van Buren St.
- Indiana Ave. northbound from Roosevelt Rd. to 13th St.
- Place of publication: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Dr.
- Garvey Ct.: Entrance and exit to Lower Wacker Dr.
Streets open with local access only
The following streets will remain open with local access only for residents, businesses and their employees, and sidewalks will remain open during the track installation and dismantling processes.
- Michigan Ave. southbound from Monroe St. to Jackson Dr.
- Southbound Michigan Ave. from 8th St. to Roosevelt Rd.
- 8th St. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- 9th St. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- 11th St. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- Balbo Dr. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- Harrison St. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- Ida B. Wells from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- Jackson Boulevard. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- Van Buren St. from Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.
- Monroe St. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.
- Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. from Randolph St. to Monroe St.
- Michigan Ave. northbound from 13th St. to 16th St.
- North on Indiana Ave. from 14th St. to 16th St.
- The Columbus Underpass and Chicago Lakefront Bike Trail will remain open throughout the event (this includes Monroe St. and Roosevelt Rd.).
- Pedestrians traveling westbound must use and access the sidewalk on the north side of the Monroe St., Roosevelt Rd., or Columbus Dr. underpass only.
Alternative routes available
The following alternate routes are available, though officials say the City of Chicago may close additional streets “if deemed necessary”:
- Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. will remain open from South Shore Dr. to the merge of I-55.
- To visit the museum campus from the south: Exit DuSable Lake Shore Dr. at 31st St. and use Fort Dearborn Dr. to continue north and access 18th Dr.
- To visit the museum campus from the north: Exit Stevenson Expressway (I-55N) and merge onto N/DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Exit at 18th Dr.
- Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. will remain open from Hollywood Blvd. to Randolph St.
- Inner DuSable Lake Shore Dr. will remain open in both directions.
- The Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions.
- The Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions. The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) will remain open in both directions.
- Stevenson Expressway (I-55) will remain open in both directions.
What streets will remain open?
- State Street
- Dearborn Street
- Clark Street
- La Salle Street
- Wells Street
- Franklin Street
- Upper Wacker Trail
- Lower Wacker Trail
- Randolph Street
- Washington Street
- Madison Street
- Roosevelt Road west of Michigan Avenue
- 18th street
More information about this year’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race can be found here.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.