A still from a promotional video for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. (Courtesy of NASCAR)

Downtown street closures in preparation for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race are set to start Monday ahead of the racing event returning to the city this summer.

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race will take place July 6-7.

Setting up and tearing down for the race will take 19 days, officials said. That’s down from the 25 days it took last year, when the event was held in the city for the first time.

Buckingham Fountain, Butler Field and Lower Hutchinson Field will remain accessible to the public during the racing event, including during set-up and tear-down, with “minimal restrictions,” according to a news release.

Below is a list of street closures, locals-only streets and alternative routes associated with the NASCAR Chicago Street Race.

Pre-Race Activity in Grant Park

• Monday, 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 Drive and Balbo Drive.
• Wednesday, June 19, to Thursday, June 20: Temporary road closure from 9 p.m. to 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 assembled.
• Wednesday, June 26: Beginning at 8 p.m., northbound traffic lane closure on Congress Circle.
• Thursday, June 27: Beginning at 7 p.m., curb lane closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road.

Significant Street Closures

• Thursday, June 27: Beginning at 7 p.m., closure of Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.
• Friday, June 28: Beginning at 8 a.m., closure of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive (intersection will remain open).
• Friday, June 28: Beginning at 7 p.m., full closure of Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive.
• Saturday, June 29: Beginning at 7 p.m., southbound lane closure on Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road.
• Monday, July 1: Beginning at 1 a.m., closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road. Closure of Jackson Drive between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
• Monday, July 1: Beginning at 9 p.m., closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. Reopening at 6 a.m. July 2.
• Tuesday, July 2: Beginning at 6 a.m., closure of Congress Circle and entrances at Michigan Avenue, Van Buren Street and Harrison Street.
• Thursday, July 4: Beginning at 9 p.m., closure of westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Closure of northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive.
• Friday, July 5: Beginning at 12:01 a.m., closure of northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. 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: Saturday, July 6, and Sunday, July 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
• Reopening Schedule: The northbound section of DuSable Lake Shore Drive is set to reopen on Monday, July 8, at 6 a.m. After the event, select streets will gradually reopen.
• Priority Streets: The priority streets for reopening are DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. Other street closures will remain in place until the demobilization of the track wall, fence and viewing structures is completed.
• Demobilization: Street closures will continue until the track wall, fence and viewing structures are demobilized. All NASCAR-related demobilization activities are expected to conclude by the end of the day on July 18.

Streets With Local Access Only for Residents, Businesses and Their Employees

Sidewalks will remain open throughout the set-up and tear-down (June 10-July 18).

• Southbound Michigan Avenue from Monroe Street to Jackson Drive
• Southbound Michigan Avenue 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 Drive from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
• Jackson Boulevard from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
• 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 lakefront bicycle path will remain open throughout the event (this includes Monroe Street and Roosevelt Road).
• Pedestrians traveling west must use and access the sidewalk on the north side of Monroe Street, Roosevelt Road or the Columbus Drive underpass only.

Alternative Routes Available

NOTE: 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 I-55 merger.
• To visit the Museum Campus from the south: Exit DuSable Lake Shore Drive at 31st Street and use Fort Dearborn Drive to proceed north and access 18th Drive.
• To visit the Museum Campus from the north: Access Stevenson Expressway (I-55N) and merge onto N/DuSable Lake Shore Drive exit at 18th.
• DuSable Lake Shore Drive southbound will remain open from Hollywood Boulevard to Randolph Street.
• Inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive will remain open in both directions.
• Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions.
• Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions. Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) will remain open in both directions.
• Stevenson Expressway (I-55) will remain open in both directions.
• In the 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 Street.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: @eunicealpasan | 773-509-5362 | [email protected]