This week, NASCAR announced their traffic plan for The Loop 110 and Grant Park 165 races happening this July. The plan included fewer street closures and the fastest set up and tear down in the history of NASCAR in Chicago, now in its third year. Balbo Drive from Columbus to Lake Shore drives will close on June 19 and re-open on July 14. This 25 day process is almost two weeks shorter than what happened last year.
TRANSCRIPT:
0:04: This week NASCAR announced its traffic plan for its third return to Chicago this summer.
0:09: The plan includes fewer road closures and its fastest set up and tear down plan yet.
0:14: Because of the fast set up and tear down, streets will be closed for a shorter amount of time leading up to and after the race, making it easier for those in the Loop to get around than previous years.
0:24: This year, Balbo Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore is closed the longest.
0:28: Closures start as early as June 19 and last as late as July 14.
0:33: Last year for the street closures, I remember, I believe it was for the NASCAR event, I tried to go to work a bunch of times and I couldn’t because like the streets were closed, you know, my bus route wasn’t, you know, fully working, so I feel like that was kind of annoying at times.
0:49: Like I get it, close the streets down for like an event, but I got to go to work, you know, 0:54: There’s been a few times it’s very inconvenient. I’ve been in the car with some of my friends and we can’t go down certain roads that would have got us to our destination a lot faster if it wasn’t.
1:04: Also, I love Dunkin’, and it’s been a few times I’ve tried to walk to Dunkin’ and I couldn’t because of the streets being closed off and I walk everywhere.
1:15: I don’t take public transportation, so it’s very inconvenient to me, you know, when it could be three minutes and now it’s 12 minutes.
1:22: Oh, I like the idea since I’m not a fan of the NASCAR, so I am the commuter side, so I totally agree with that. That’s a really nice idea.
1:33: No, that does sound good: the fast takedown, the fast event sounds like it’d be a lot better for the general public overall, yeah.
1:40: I was not here for the weekend. I guess it’s a really great show.
1:45: I guess it’s been two years in a row and I don’t know, I hope they enjoy it and I hope they are in a midpoint where commuters get to be happy as well.
1:54: I think NASCAR is cool. I think it would have been smarter if they just found empty land somewhere and did that where it’s not, like, affecting, you know, the streets.
2:03: These are people’s homes, businesses and stuff where this is, like, now affecting a lot of people and not necessarily in the most positive way.
2:10: The NASCAR races take place July 5 and 6.
2:14: For some that means heading downtown to catch a glimpse at the racers, and for others, that means staying at home.
2:20: Whichever you are, check out NASCARchicago.com for more information on which streets are closed and when.
2:26: This is Ali Brenneman for Chronicle TV.
Copy edited by Matt Brady
