Chicago closes downtown streets to incoming traffic amid Mexican Independence Day celebrations
CHICAGO (CBS) – Much of downtown Chicago was closed off to incoming vehicular traffic Friday evening as the city was preparing for possible large celebrations for Mexican Independence Day.
The Office of Emergency Management & Communications announced around 8 p.m. that the central business district was closed to incoming traffic from Division to 18th Street and from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Halsted Street "for public safety reasons due to large car caravans."
Residents who live or work in the affected area would be allowed access at several points including:
- Halsted/Division
- Halsted/Chicago
- Halsted/Washington
- Halsted/Madison
- Halsted/Jackson
- Division/LaSalle
- Roosevelt/Union
- 18th/State
- 18th/Michigan
- 18th/Indiana
CTA buses were also delayed in the Loop due to the street blockages. Due to the anticipated crowds downtown, bus service was cut short west to east terminating at Halsted; north to south and terminating at Chicago; and south to north terminating at Cermak.
It's unclear how long the closures would last.
Commuters were advised to allow extra time to travel.
It's a busy weekend in the city, with the Mexican Independence Day Parade taking place on Saturday. There's also Riot Fest on the West Side and a 50 Cent concert at the United Center on Saturday.
"So this is really the perfect storm for weekend traffic," said Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd). "There's going to be a lot of traffic anyway, and then you factor in the potential car caravans along with the parade. It's a recipe for gridlock."
Last year, as people gathered downtown to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, the large crowds brought traffic to a standstill. Motorists converged on Lake Shore Drive, creating a parking lot.
Hopkins said he's been working closely with 18th District police and that CPD is prepared. The department has canceled days off for officers and redeployed resources.
"We are going to have a very strong show of force, not only downtown but in the outlying neighborhoods as well," he said.
The alderman added that police have learned car clubs are planning to have side shows in the city.
"There's talk that they will be coming downtown to try to take advantage of the confusion and the chaos and takeover intersections with some of the stunts that we've seen before involving flammable liquids, fireworks, things of that nature," Hopkins said. "If that happens, the Chicago police are prepared to make arrests, and they're prepared to impound vehicles."
As of Friday afternoon, Illinois State Police said they did not plan to close off the entrance or exit ramps on any expressways.
