NASCAR reveals updated traffic plan ahead of July street race

With NASCAR’s two-day Chicago Street Race and Music Festival less than three months away, parking restrictions and street closures are set to begin June 2 in preparation for the event. The NASCAR Cup Series Street Race will run from Saturday, July 1, through Sunday, July 2, taking over Grant Park and sections of the Loop. Over 100,000 attendees are expected over the course of the weekend-long event.

Closures will affect high-traffic areas including portions of Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue, and Du Sable Lake Shore Drive. The most significant traffic interruptions are expected to begin June 25, according to the latest traffic plan.

The street closures are expected to continue for several days following the event, and construction breakdown of the course is anticipated to last well into July. Deconstruction of the Grant Park event space is scheduled to end in time for the Lollapalooza music festival in early August.

NASCAR officials have promised more information will be made available in the coming weeks, stating "Plans to ensure local access, rerouting information, and specific reopening timelines, will be shared through the NASCAR Chicago Street Race community information website..."

The downtown street closures will have a significant impact on local traffic in the Loop and throughout the city. "It's going to be a difficult summer for Grant Park. No question about it," said Ald. Brian Hopkins (D-2nd) in a statement. “Our job is to make sure as many people who are impacted by this as possible find out about it as far in advance as we can, so they can make plans accordingly and try to minimize the disruption to their lives."

A full list of street closures and additional information is available on the NASCAR Chicago site.

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