About 10,000 dignitaries, their staff, and journalist are expected to arrive for the NATO summit May 20-21 as well as anti-NATO protesters.
Below are the latest updates on how Chicago transportation preparation and how it will be affected:
- O’Hare Airport
- Will be shutting down 1 runway to use as a parking lot for dignitaries planes
- Flow of airline arrivals and departures will speed up and slow down based on the arrivals and departures of the heads of state and their entourages
- Some heads of state may decide not to land at O’Hare and will land at satellite airports in the suburbs
- Escort vehicles will be provided for foreign and military pilots who have not flown into O’Hare before to avoid wrong turns
- The FAA and Chicago Department of Aviation aren’t planning on NATO disturbing any of the normal air travel to and from O’Hare
- CTA and Metra
- Currently running tabletop exercises on any adjustments that may need to be made
- Passenger rail lines that pass through McCormick Place will operate during the summit
- Extra buses and trains will run to serve the larger number of riders for the NATO summit and Crosstown Classic games
- Highways
- Highway entrance ramps are being checked to make sure they are in working order to close and reopen access roads
- The Kennedy Expressway and other highways will likely be closed temporarily at different points during the NATO summit weekend for added security to the heads of state and their entourages
- Downtown Streets
- Possible parking ban in the downtown area
- Secret Service has not yet announced whether parts of Lake Shore Drive and Cermak Road near McCormick Place will be shut down
- Rolling street closures are to be expected as dignitaries travel through the city
For the full article from the Chicago Tribune, please click here.