Following the revving excitement of NASCAR's second street race in downtown Chicago, the city's streets are methodically reverting to their usual cadence. According to WGN-TV, the first wave of traffic flow restoration began with the reopening of northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive early Monday morning.
As crews work to rapidly demobilize the infrastructure that supported the raucous symphony of engines, barriers and track walls are being removed across the city. Northbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street was also cleared for traffic by noon Monday, in an effort to swiftly return to normalcy. However, one lane on Michigan Ave between Van Buren and Jackson will continue to be closed, indicating the city's intent on a thoughtful, yet expedient, clearance process.
Officials from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications have emphasized their main priority is the reopening of key thoroughfares, including DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, and Columbus Drive. Although tear-down activities remain underway, "all businesses and residences near the temporary track will remain accessible," as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The final pieces of NASCAR's temporary asphalt canvas are set to vanish by the end of the day July 18, with southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive fully expected to be open, along with other major thoroughfares like Roosevelt Road and Indiana Ave during Tuesday's rush. All closures and their statuses are being actively updated and can be found on the official NASCAR in Chicago website, providing residents a real-time look into when they can fully reclaim their streets.
