DNC causes excitement in Chicago, but also frustration due to street closures and parking restrictions

CHICAGO (CBS) — Final preparations are currently underway for the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago, for which delegates are flying in from across the country.

Tension has been building for weeks among Democrats. Delegates, staff and volunteers from across the country flocked to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention on Saturday, two days before the big event begins.

Some of the people running for the DNC in Chicago are relatively easy to spot, wearing special lanyards with their credentials and wearing red, white and blue clothing. But they are also recognizable by their sheer numbers, as they arrive by the busload.

Several buses dropped off dozens of people at the Marriott Marquis Chicago, one of the hotels closest to McCormick Place, on Saturday afternoon. Visitors said they could already feel the excitement of the DNC.

“I’m really excited and thrilled. Yes, I mean, I’m here for the convention. It’s like a breath of fresh air. It’s amazing. This is the first time I’ve volunteered and I’m so motivated to keep doing it,” said Myrna Forbes of Ossining, New York.

However, the DNC has also caused frustration among people who live near the United Center through the road closures and parking restrictions that are now in place.

Barricades have been erected and the security area around the United Center has been cordoned off. For anyone living near the United Center, it has become difficult to find their way around in recent days.

Morning walks, jogs and bike rides end abruptly with closed roads.

“I was just trying to see if I could get in, but I didn’t want to get in trouble, you know?” said Sameer Sanjeevi.

Sanjeevi knew the DNC was coming to town, but he’s having a hard time finding a way around it.

“Normally it’s free, especially these roads, but I don’t know, today I’ll probably just have to think of a different route,” he said.

Sanjeevi was just passing through on Saturday, but Toya Westbrook was trying to get home.

“Every day it’s a different route, so we don’t know where we’re going to come in or come out,” she said.

She and her husband live down Seeley Avenue, which is blocked off just west of the United Center.

“My husband is a disabled veteran and had an emergency about a week ago and we had to call the ambulance. So what if we have another medical emergency? Where could the vehicles go in and out?” Westbrook said.

The Westbrooks must navigate alleys by car to get to their house, and their home is surrounded by high fences that lead to the United Center grounds.

“We are frustrated because we feel trapped in our own home,” Westbrook said.

There are still a few days until the party convention, but the Westbrooks are tired of dead ends and detours and can hardly wait for the DNC to leave.

Road restrictions will affect the areas around the United Center and McCormick until the end of the DNC

Parking restrictions for the United Center (Subject to change)

• Lake St. from Ashland to Damen, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., south side of the street from Sunday, August 18 to Thursday, August 22
• Maypole Ave from Hermitage to Damen, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., both sides of the street, from Sunday, August 18 to Thursday, August 22
• Jackson Blvd. from Wood to Western, continuous on both sides of the street from Saturday, August 17th through Friday, August 23rd.
• Washington Blvd from Ashland to Paulina, continuous on both sides of the street, from Sunday, August 18th to Friday, August 23rd.
• Warren Blvd. from Ashland to Paulina, continuous on both sides of the street from Sunday, August 18, through Friday, August 23.
• Paulina St. from Washington to Lake, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., both sides of the street from Sunday, August 18 to Thursday, August 22.
• Hermitage Ave from Washington to Lake, daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., both sides of the street from Sunday, August 18 to Thursday, August 22.
• Wood Ave. from Washington to Lake, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, both sides of the street from Sunday, August 18 through Thursday, August 22.
• Wolcott Ave. from Washington to Lake, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, both sides of the street, Sunday, August 18 through Thursday, August 22.

Road closures in the restricted area around the United Center

The roads will not be closed to local traffic until 10 p.m. on Thursday, August 15. This will apply from Lake to Jackson and from Western to Ashland and Ogden. There will be major closures between Hoyne and Paulina and between Lake and Adams.

Parking restrictions for McCormick Place (Subject to change)

• 18th St. from Michigan Ave. to Prairie Ave., daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and currently valid through Sunday, August 25.
• Cullerton St. from Michigan Ave. to Calumet Ave., daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and currently valid through Sunday, August 25.
• 21st Street from Michigan Avenue to Calumet Avenue, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and currently valid through Sunday, August 25.
• Cermak Rd from Michigan Ave to Calumet Ave continuous and currently in effect through Sunday, August 25th.
• 23rd Street from Wabash Avenue to Indiana Avenue, continuous and currently in effect through Sunday, August 25.
• 24th St. from Wabash Ave. to Indiana Ave., continuous and currently valid through Sunday, August 25.
• 24th Place from Wabash Ave to Indiana Ave, continuous and currently valid through Sunday, August 25th.
• Calumet Ave. from 18th Street to 200 feet south of 18th Street, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and currently in effect through Sunday, August 25.
• MLK Dr. from 22nd to 25th Street, continuous and currently valid through Sunday, August 25th.
• Prairie Ave. from 20th to 22nd Streets, continuous and currently in effect through Sunday, August 25th.
• Indiana Ave. from 18th Street to 25th Street continuously and currently in effect through Sunday, August 25th.
• Michigan Ave. from 21st Street to 25th Street continuously and currently in effect through Sunday, August 25th.
• Street closures at McCormick Place will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 17.
• Indiana Avenue from 18th to E. 24th Place
• Michigan Avenue from 21st to 25th Street
• Cermak Road from Wabash Avenue to MLK 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 MLK Drive
• MLK ride from Cermak Rd. to 25th Street
• E 21st Street closed from S. Michigan Avenue to S. Calumet Avenue.
• E 21st St is open west of S Michigan Avenue to and including S Wabash Avenue and E 21st.

No trucks or other objects larger than cars are allowed on Interstate 55/Stevenson Expressway between DuSable Lake Shore Drive and S State Street in either direction.

The MLK Blvd. exit from the northbound lanes of I-55 (eastbound here), including the I-55 turn lane (north-south), is closed except to vehicles specifically authorized by the USSS.

NOTE: Expect rolling road closures due to DNC activities.

Sidewalk closures around venues near McCormick Place:

For safety reasons, some walkways around the venues will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Please pay attention to directional signs in this area.

Starting Friday, August 16, at 7 p.m., vehicle checkpoints will be set up near McCormick Place

From Friday 16 August, 7pm to Thursday 22 August, two vehicle checkpoints will be set up. These will be held at the following locations.

• S. Indiana Ave. will have a closure from E. 18th St. to E. Cullerton.
• E. Cermak will have a no-go zone from S. Wabash Ave. to Michigan Ave.

DNC road closures include:

• N. Wabash from E, Chestnut to E Delaware Place from Sunday, August 18 to Wednesday, August 21
• E. Huron Street from N. Michigan to N. Rush from Sunday, August 18 to Friday, August 23
• E. Chicago from N. Michigan Avenue to N. Rush Street from Sunday, August 18 to Friday, August 23
• E. Delaware Place from N. State to N. Rush on Tuesday, August 20.
• N. Rush from E. Delaware Place to E. Walton on Tuesday, August 20th.
• E Walton from N State to N Rush on Tuesday, August 20.
• N State from E Delaware to E Walton on Tuesday, August 20.

Several streets in the city center are also closed.

DNC road closures include:

• N. Wabash from E, Chestnut to E Delaware Place from Sunday, August 18 to Wednesday, August 21
• E. Huron Street from N. Michigan to N. Rush from Sunday, August 18 to Friday, August 23
• E. Chicago from N. Michigan Avenue to N. Rush Street from Sunday, August 18 to Friday, August 23
• E. Delaware Place from N. State to N. Rush on Tuesday, August 20.
• N. Rush from E. Delaware Place to E. Walton on Tuesday, August 20th.
• E. Walton from N. State to N. Rush on Tuesday, August 20th.
• N. State from E. Delaware to E. Walton on Tuesday, August 20th.

To stay up to date on the various street closures and other DNC event information, you can visit Chicago.gov/OEMC and download the Chicago OEMC app.