Coverage and analysis of the 2024 Democratic National Convention taking place in Chicago.
Only a few days left until the 2024 Democratic National Convention – and it will bring with it road closures, bus diversions and other traffic disruptions.
The DNC has its own shuttles between the United Center, where some of the biggest events take place, McCormick Place, where official party business is conducted, and the convention hotels, but these are for accredited delegates, volunteers and media only.
Here’s what you need to know before next week:
Where will there be roads due to DNC restrictions?
The city announces that as part of the security perimeter, streets around the United Center will be closed starting Saturday at 7:00 p.m.:
- West Washington Boulevard from Damen Avenue to South Wood Street
- Damen Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to West Washington Boulevard
- West Warren Boulevard from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
- West Madison Street from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
- West Monroe Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
- West Adams Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
- South Honore Street from West Monroe Street to West Adams Street
- South Wood Street from West Washington Boulevard to West Jackson Boulevard
- South Seeley Avenue from West Madison Street to West Adams Street
Traffic on Jackson Boulevard in this area will also be restricted. Construction of fences along the security perimeter has already begun.
Road closures around McCormick Place begin at 10 p.m. Friday:
- Indiana Avenue from 18th to East 24th Place
- Michigan Avenue from 21st to 25th Street
- Cermak Road from Wabash Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive
- 23rd Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue
- Prairie Avenue from Cullerton Street to 24th Place
- 24th Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue
- Calumet Avenue from Cullerton Street to 24th Place
- 24th Place from Wabash Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive
- Martin Luther King Drive from Cermak Road to 25th Street
- 21st Street from South Michigan Avenue to South Calumet Avenue.
Trucks are not allowed on I-55 in the McCormick Place area and traffic restrictions are in place at the South Martin Luther King Drive exit.
Due to the DNC’s activities, there will likely be temporary street closures, the city said.
Impact of the DNC on CTA and Metra
The city says disruptions on the L Line are planned, but unplanned events can occur that impact rail service. A Chicago Transit Authority spokesperson told CBS News Chicago that the CTA is making “targeted service adjustments” on some lines to accommodate additional ridership.
Due to security measures, several buses will be diverted from Friday:
- #1 Bronzeville/Union Station
- #3 Royal Road
- #4 Cottage Grove
- #X4 Cottage Grove
- #20 Madison
- #21 Ceramics
- #50 Women
- #126 Jackson
Visit transitchicago.com/dnc for more details and to sign up for text message alerts.
Metra will also provide additional trains for DNC passengers. There will be hourly shuttle trains between the O’Hare Transfer Station near O’Hare’s multimodal car rental facility and Union Station. A complete schedule can be found on Metra’s website.
Planned DNC protests
A number of the planned protests are also expected to result in traffic disruptions and temporary road closures.
The first protest of the weekend, organized by the Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws Coalition, will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday downtown at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive.
The coalition marching on the DNC has planned two large protests, one at noon Monday and another at 5 p.m. Thursday. Lawyers for the coalition, which has been locked in a legal battle with the city over the protest’s route, expect as many as 25,000 people could attend.
The route offered to the coalition by the city begins in Union Park and follows Washington west to Hermitage, then north to Maypole, west to Park 578 and then to Damen, north to Lake Street and finally ends in Union Park. A federal judge earlier this week ruled in favor of the city, saying this “allows them to speak close to their intended audience.”
City Hall’s lawyers say this image shows the protest route it offered in relation to the security perimeter around the United Center during the Democratic National Convention.
U.S. District Court Records
Also on Monday at 4 p.m., the Poor People’s Army will march from Humboldt Park to the United Center. Due to a city permit issue, they are allowed to march closer to Congress than other groups.
A coalition of pro-Palestinian groups is also planning a protest rally in Union Park at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday ahead of President Joe Biden’s speech at the DNC.
DNC Security Perimeter Cards
