Pedway Offers Warm Shortcuts To Avoid Cold Downtown

(CBS) -- For those of us who had to come to work, the key to staying warm can be a few shortcuts, reports CBS 2's Jim Williams.

Peter Djuvik's company on Wacker ordered in. But nearby, five miles of heated pedways downtown allows workers to leave the office for lunch in short sleeves.

Regina Washington walks three blocks from the Cook County building, all underground.

"I'm on my lunch break, I'm getting ready to go over to Macy's," she said.

While the most of us about the deep freeze…

"I'm happy about the cold," said Vince Tan, owner of the restaurant Thalia. "I love the cold weather."

Because Thalia, located inside the pedway beneath the CBS 2 studios, has many more customers now.

"We see the increase of business about 30 percent or more," he said.

There are a couple of spots where it is chilly in the pedway, by the subway stations, for example, but mainly it's actually too warm for a heavy overcoat and the walk is pleasant; stain glass windows here a swimming pool there and businesses along the way.

The pedway connects 50 buildings so a lot of workers can avoid the cold and businesses down there benefit. For a map of the pedway system, click here.