Chicago City Wire

Residents are encouraged report suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1, be aware of your surroundings and to plan ahead for traffic impacts

CHICAGO —The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) has coordinated public safety planning with the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), Chicago Police Department (CPD) for the upcoming NASCAR Chicago Street Race in Grant Park on July 1 and July 2. With public safety as our top priority, efforts have been made to be ready for any possible emergency situation during the event, as well as evaluation of impacts to critical facilities and businesses, alternative routes for motorists and first responders, weather impacts, and more.

The City of Chicago will have citywide deployments for the July 4th Holiday Weekend to ensure the safety and security of the public. The OEMC will monitor weekend events and weather conditions citywide from the Operations Center and coordinate public safety resources with critical stakeholders. OEMC will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the four-day holiday weekend along with the Summer Operations Center. During the event, CPD and CFD will have additional special event resources deployed for the race which will ensure no degradation to response and mitigation resources across all city neighborhoods.

Report Suspicious Activity:  If You See Something, Say Something. Throughout the event, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. If you notice something suspicious, notify onsite security or call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. Although the City has not received actionable threats, the Department of Homeland Security released an advisory on May 24, 2023 -  National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin. DHS emphasizes the continued heightened threat environment across the United States. It notes that “lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances continue to pose a persistent threat to the United States.” 

CFD will have additional ambulances assigned to the NASCAR footprint and on standby to assist the private ambulances contracted by NASCAR. Designated CFD teams will monitor fire panels in buildings next to the event footprint along Michigan Avenue and will be able to stop racing to access the area as needed. Additionally, CFD will have medical and suppression teams next to the course to respond to civilian or race-related events as required with medical carts and smaller CFD suppression vehicles. These response teams include special dry chemical suppression units to augment NASCAR’s personnel at the fuel storage center.

Northwestern Memorial is the primary hospital to receive patients from the NASCAR footprint but alternate hospitals, including the University of Chicago, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and University of Illinois, have also been designated for reception of patients as needed during NASCAR activities and closures.

The Chicago OEMC app is also a great tool to download as street closures and other event information will be added in the coming weeks. The app is now available through the Apple App and Google Play Stores. To immediately download, click HERE or visit the website Chicago.gov/OEMC.  

Pole Markers/Location Identifiers: For public safety on the lakefront, race event and concert attendees are reminded to be aware of the numbers attached to the poles throughout the Grant Park area to help reference their location within the park if you call 9-1-1 in an emergency. 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers will be able to provide the location to first responders. They can also See be used between friends and family members as a meeting point if you become separated. For complete details, click HERE.

The City of Chicago and NASCAR officials remind residents and visitors of the significant street closures in and around Grant Park. As Chicago hosts the first-ever cup series street race in NASCAR’s 75-year history, residents and visitors are encouraged to be mindful of the traffic impacts, as well as safety measures in place. For complete details, residents can download the community brochure and maps, street closures, FAQs, parking restrictions, and more at nascarchicago.com/localinfo/ or email NASCAR directly to info@nascarchicago.com.

NEW –A NASCAR Chicago Street Race hotline has been set up. The 888.629.7223 number will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST beginning Monday, June 26 through Sunday, July 2. After 9 p.m. CST all calls will go to the voicemail box with a notification email that will be sent directly to a representative. When the Center re-opens in the morning, a representative will follow-up.

Public Transportation: As for any large–scale event, public transportation is encouraged, and both CTA and Metra will provide additional service for the event. Public transit is the most affordable and convenient way to get to and from the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. For more information, visit CTA at TransitChicago.com and Metra.com.

Motorists in the areas around Grant Park and the Loop during the week leading up to and during race weekend should be prepared for heavy traffic and possible reroutes. There will be some street closures to ensure public safety. Traffic Control Aides (TCAs) will be on to direct flow and impacts from heavy traffic. NOTE: Due to the Kennedy/Edens Expressway construction, motorists may experience delays and increased traffic on local area streets as drivers find alternative routes to avoid impacts of the project. For complete details on the construction project, visit the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) website at Idot.illinois.gov/projects/InterSt.ate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-St.udy

WEEKEND STREET CLOSURES

• Saturday, July 1: Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. between McFetridge Dr. and Randolph St. will close at 4:00 a.m. as an added safety precaution.
• Monday, July 3: Select streets will begin reopening following the conclusion of the event. All street closures are expected to remain in effect as demobilization of the track wall, fence, and viewing structures takes place.
• NOTE: The priority Streets to reopen are DuSable Lake Shore Dr., Michigan Ave., and Columbus Dr. Other street closures will remain in effect as demobilization of the track wall, fence, and viewing structures takes place.
• Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. will begin reopening Sunday, July 2 and all demobilization activity is expected to conclude by Saturday, July 15.

Streets with Local Access Only for Residents, Businesses, and their Employees.

Sidewalks will remain open throughout the event. (*Updates)

• 8th St. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• 9th St. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• 11th St. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• Balbo Dr. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• Harrison St. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• Ida B. Wells from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• Jackson Blvd. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• NB Michigan Ave. from Roosevelt Rd. to Balbo Dr., June 29–July 5
• SB Michigan Ave. from Monroe St. to Jackson Dr., June 29–July 5
• Van Buren St. from Wabash St. to Michigan Ave., June 29–July 5
• SB Indiana Ave. from Roosevelt Rd.to 13th, June 29-July 4

The above Local Access Only streets will have a temporary cul-de-sac in place to allow for two-way traffic.

Alternative Routes Available – NOTE: Streets may be closed by the City of Chicago, if deemed necessary.

• DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Northbound will remain open from South Shore Dr. to I-55 merger.
• To visit the Museum Campus: Exit at 31st St. and utilize Fort Dearborn Dr. to proceed north and access 18th Dr.
• DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Southbound will remain open from Hollywood Blvd. to Randolph St. Inner DuSable Lake Shore Dr. 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 St., Dearborn St., Clark St., LaSalle St., Wells St., Franklin St., Upper Wacker Dr., Lower Wacker Dr., Randolph St., Washington St., Madison St., Roosevelt Rd - West of Michigan Ave., 18th St.

OEMC will issue any alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on weather conditions and emergencies. Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org. OEMC also issues TEXT alerts for lakefront notice and issues affecting businesses:

• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook (@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC) and Instagram (chicago_oemc_911).

Original source can be found here.