Construction crews revving up for the city’s first NASCAR street race have begun erecting scaffolding and redirecting walkways around Downtown landmarks.
Scaffolding is up across the street from Buckingham Fountain — the main “Fan Plaza” for the race. It will be used to build the event’s VIP suites and the President’s Paddock Club, which will be “elevated above the tree line” with panoramic views of the course, according to renderings of the layout and NASCAR’s website.
Construction began last weekend, with structures being built along sidewalk and curbs to “ensure access to the park is maintained for visitors,” a NASCAR spokesperson said in a statement.
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend will be July 1-2. Parking restrictions began last week along Columbus Drive between Jackson and Balbo drives, and part of Ida B. Wells Drive will close this weekend for crews to work.
The most significant restrictions and road closures are coming June 28, city officials have said. Roads will gradually reopen in the two weeks following the event. A full list of road closures can be found here.
