Security Plan Shuts Down Roads, South Loop For NATO Summit Weekend
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A large security zone around McCormick Place will be off limits to Chicagoans, and the Museum Campus, Lake Shore Drive and several major expressways and streets will be shut down before or during the NATO Summit, under a plan revealed on Friday.
All of this comes on top of a large restricted air space zone above the city. Anybody violating that airspace could be shot down.
"There will be some inconveniences, but they will be minor inconveniences," said Gary Schnekel, director of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management. "Every effort has been made to minimize the impact."
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Metra and South Shore commuters will be able to ride the trains that run under McCormick Place.
They may be subject to TSA-style pat downs and screenings and they can expect delays for security sweeps. Service may be reduced during the summit, but those details are not yet available. Metra officials said they hoped to have a plan finalized next week.
Starting midnight May 19 though May 21, The Department Of Homeland Security plans to shut down access in a security perimeter around McCormick Place, where leaders from several countries, including President Obama, will be holding their meetings. That zone's boundary includes 21st Street on the north, 25th Street on the south, Indiana on the west and the lakefront to the east.
Officials at a news conference on Friday said residents and business will have access during the summit. DHS is still in the process of defining a fenced off area around the summit location.
Still, some residents expressed worry about street closures and a plan to ban parking on some streets for more than a week.
Lake Shore Drive will be closed from Balbo to 39th Street in both directions. The Stevenson Expy. will also be shut down in both directions from the Dan Ryan to Lake Shore Drive.
Adler Planetarium, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium will be closed to the public on Sunday, May 20. The Museum Campus itself will be closed, starting Saturday evening. There will also be parking restrictions around the Willis Tower. Chicago NATO Committee chair Lori Healey indicated there are plans for an official NATO event at the tower, but said it was up to the federal government to announce those details.
Boaters can also expect to see a higher security presence on Lake Michigan and must adhere to limitations based on certain security zones. (See below)
Some of the restrictions, most notably parking restrictions around McCormick Place, will start on May 13.
"Road closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transportation routes and public works services will be necessary during the NATO Summit beginning in a limited capacity at 6 a.m., Sunday, May 13 (parking restrictions only)," according to a release from the Department Of Homeland Security. "Additional parking restrictions will go into effect on Tuesday, May 15 in limited areas near McCormick Place. Road closures and pedestrian restrictions will be implemented beginning at midnight, Saturday, May 19 (Friday midnight into Saturday). The affected roadways will open for evening rush hour on Monday, May 21."
In addition, there will be intermittent shut downs to allow dignitaries to travel to and from McCormick Place.
Those include:
- I-90 East & West (Kennedy Expressway) between O'Hare International Airport and downtown
- Ohio Street from I-90/94 to Fairbanks Court/Columbus Drive
- Ontario Street from Fairbanks Court/Columbus Drive to I-90/94
- I-90/94 East and West between downtown and I-55
- Roosevelt Road, 18th Street, and Canalport Avenue access from I-94 West (Dan Ryan Expressway outbound)
More details of the restrictions:
McCormick Place
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Street parking will be prohibited beginning at 6 a.m., Sunday, May 13, until 11 p.m. Monday, May 21, at the following location:
- East and West sides of S. Indiana Avenue between Cermak Road and E. 24th Place
Tuesday, May, 15, 2012
Street parking will be prohibited beginning at 6 a.m., Tuesday, May 15 until 11 p.m., Tuesday, May 22 at the following locations:
- East and west sides of S. Calumet Avenue between E. Cullerton Street and E. Cermak Road
- East and west sides of S. Prairie Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
- East and west sides of S. Indiana Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
- North and south sides of E. 21st Street between S. Calumet Avenue and S. Indiana Avenue
- North and south sides of E. Cermak Road from S. Indiana Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive
- North and south sides of E. 24th Place between S. Indiana Avenue and S. State Street
- North and south sides of E. 25th Street between S. State Street and Martin Luther King Drive
- East and west sides of Martin Luther King Drive between E. Cermak Road and E. 26th Street
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - Monday, May 21, 2012
Road closures and pedestrian restrictions will be implemented beginning at midnight, Saturday, May 19 (Friday midnight into Saturday). The affected roadways will open for evening rush hour on Monday, May 21:
- Northbound and southbound Lake Shore Drive between E. Balbo Avenue and E. 39th Street
- Northbound and southbound Interstate 55 between I-90/94 to Lake Shore Drive
- Northbound and southbound S. Columbus Drive at E. Balbo Avenue
- Eastbound and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive
- Northbound and southbound S. Indiana Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
- Northbound and southbound S. Calumet Avenue between E. Cullerton Street and E. Cermak Road
- Northbound and southbound S. Prairie Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 25th Street
- Eastbound and westbound E. 21st Street between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Calumet Avenue
- Eastbound and westbound E. Cermak Road between S. Michigan Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive
- Westbound E. 24th Place between Martin Luther King Drive and S. State Street
- Eastbound E. 25th Street between S. State Street and Martin Luther King Drive
- Northbound and southbound S. Wabash Avenue between E. 24th Place and E. 25th Street
- Northbound and southbound Martin Luther King Drive between E. 26th Street and E. Cermak Road
- Northbound and southbound Moe Drive between E. 31st Street and Mines Drive
- Eastbound and westbound E. 31st Street between S. Cottage Grove and Fort Dearborn Drive
- Northbound and southbound Fort Dearborn Drive between E. 31st Street and Lakeside Center
Northern Museum Campus
Adler Planetarium, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium are scheduled to be open for business with limited parking on Saturday, May 19. Parking lots open on Saturday include the top three floors of Soldier Field North Lot and the Adler Planetarium parking lot. All parking lots will close at 5:30 p.m. following the closure of museums. If vehicles are still in lots they will be towed from the campus to an off-site city lot.
As of 6 p.m. Saturday evening, May 19, the Northern Museum Campus to include Northerly Island will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic. All pedestrians and vehicles still on the campus at that time will be permitted to exit at the intersection of Columbus Drive and Roosevelt Road.
Adler Planetarium, Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium will be closed to the public on Sunday, May 20.
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The following roads will be closed:
- Museum Campus Drive between McFetridge Drive and 18th Street
- E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- Lake Shore Drive between McFetridge Drive and McCormick Center (Street closure will merge with McCormick Center street closures.)
- Eastbound and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Lake Shore Drive
Street parking will be prohibited at the following locations:
- East and west side of N. Museum Campus Drive between McFetridge Drive and 18th Street
- North and south side of E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- North and south side of 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- East and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Lake Shore Drive
The following parking lots will be closed to museum campus patrons:
- Field Museum east parking lot
- South portion of Adler Planetarium parking lot
- First floor of Soldier Field North Lot
- Waldron Lot and Soldier Field South Lot
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 6 p.m. until Sunday, May 20 at midnight (Sunday midnight into Monday)
The following roads will be closed:
- Museum Campus Drive between E. Solidarity Drive and 18th Street
- E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- Northbound and southbound Lake Shore Drive between E. Balbo Avenue and McCormick Center (Street closure will merge with McCormick Center street closures)
- E. McFetridge Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- S. Columbus Drive between E. Balboa Drive and E. McFetridge Drive
- Eastbound and westbound E. Roosevelt Road between S. Indiana Avenue and S. Lake Shore Drive
Street parking will be prohibited at the following locations:
- East and west side of N. Museum Campus Drive between E. Solidarity Drive and 18th Street
- North and south side of E. Waldron Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- North and south side of 18th Street between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- North and south side of McFetridge Drive between S. Lake Shore Drive and Museum Campus Drive
- North and south side of eastbound and westbound Solidarity Drive between Museum Campus Drive and Adler Planetarium turnabout.
The following parking lots will be closed:
- Field Museum east parking lot
- Adler Planetarium parking lot
- Soldier Field North Lot (all floors)
- Waldron Lot and Soldier Field South Lot
Willis Tower
On Saturday, May 19, 2012, there will be intermittent road closures starting at 6 p.m. at:
- S. Franklin Street between W. Adams Street and W. Jackson Boulevard
- In addition, the street closure that already exists due to construction on W. Adams Street (north side of Willis Tower) and S. Upper Wacker Drive (west side of Willis Tower) will be in effect.
No street parking will be allowed beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 19 until midnight, Sunday, May 20 (Saturday midnight going into Sunday).
- North and south side of Adams Street on north side of Willis Tower
- North and south side of Jackson Boulevard between Franklin and Wacker Drive
- East and west side of Franklin Street between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard
Chicago Cultural Center & Art Institute of Chicago
No street parking will be allowed beginning at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 19 until midnight, Sunday, May 20 (Saturday midnight into Sunday):
- East and west sides of Wabash Avenue between Lake Street and Washington Street
- North and south sides of Randolph Street between Michigan Avenue and Wabash Avenue
- North and south sides of E. Washington Street between Wabash Avenue and Michigan Avenue
- West side of Michigan Avenue between E. Randolph Street and E. Jackson Drive
- North and south sides of E. Monroe Street between S. Michigan Avenue and S. Columbus Drive
Beginning at midnight, Sunday, May 20 (Saturday midnight into Sunday) the following road will be closed until 11 p.m.:
- E. Monroe Street between S. Michigan Avenue and S. Columbus Drive
Beginning at 4 p.m, Sunday, May 20, until 11 p.m., the following roads will be closed:
- Garland Court between Madison Street and Randolph Street
On Sunday, May 20, 2012, there will be intermittent road closures starting at 6 p.m.
- Northbound/southbound Michigan Avenue between E. Randolph Street and Jackson Drive
- Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive
- S. Columbus Drive between E. Monroe Street and E. Jackson Drive
Marina/Waterway Restrictions
The public will see an increased U.S. Coast Guard presence on the water during the NATO Summit. The Coast Guard's initiatives are one of the many layers of increased security during the summit. The Coast Guard will continue to perform its standard missions of search and rescue and law enforcement in addition to their homeland security responsibilities.
The following maritime security zone will be effective and enforced 24 hours a day between 8 a.m. on May 18, 2012, and 8 a.m. on May 22, 2012:
- Security Zone A - Security Zone A encompasses all U.S. navigable waters, facilities, and shoreline within the arc of a circle with a 2000-yard radius of the Burnham park boat ramp with its center point located in the approximate position 41º51'37"N, 087º36'44"W.[DATUM: NAD 83].
- Security Zones B, C, and D, effective between 8 a.m. on May 18, 2012, and 8 a.m. on May 22, 2012, will have fewer restrictions than Zone A. Commercial and recreational traffic will be allowed access to these areas unless security measures need to be temporarily implemented.
- Security Zone B - Security Zone B encompasses all U.S. navigable waters, facilities, and shoreline within the arc of a circle with a 2000-yard radius of the outer most tip of the Chicago lock with its center point located in the approximate position 41º53'19"N, 087º36'17"W.[DATUM: NAD 83].
- Security Zone C - Security Zone C encompasses all U.S. navigable waters of the Chicago River between the Western Gate of the Chicago Controlling Works Lock which is located in approximate position 41º53'18"N, 087º36'28"W. [DATUM: NAD 83] and the juncture of the north and south branches of the Chicago River which is located in approximate position 41º53'11"N, 087º38'15"W. [DATUM: NAD 83]
- Security Zone D - Security Zone D encompasses all U.S. navigable waters of the south branch of the Chicago River between Mile Markers 245.0 and 276.0. [DATUM: NAD 83].
Concerned maritime traffic can contact the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Representative via VHF-FM Channel 16.
All City of Chicago owned or operated bridges over the Main, South and North Branches of the Chicago River will be closed to masted navigation between 7 a.m. on May 18, 2012 through 7 a.m. on May 21, 2012.
Commuter Rail Lines and Public Transit
Commuter rail lines in Chicago will not be closed to riders during the NATO Summit. However, passengers should plan for delays as trains approach and pass through the McCormick Place stop due to necessary security measures.
The McCormick Place stop will be closed on both Sunday, May 20 and Monday, May 21. Other stations may be closed as needed. Additional information on route changes during the NATO Summit will be available online via Metra at http://www.metrarail.com and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District at http://www.NICTD.com.
Changes to bus routes within the vehicle and pedestrian restricted areas will be necessary. Information on route changes will be available on the Chicago Transit Authority website at http://www.TransitChicago.com.
