IDOT state fair traffic control changes announced

[August 11, 2009]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Department of Transportation officials announced Monday that the traffic pattern around the Illinois State Fairgrounds will be changed to a counterclockwise one-way pattern for the 2009 Illinois State Fair, which runs from Friday to Aug. 23.

While the one-way traffic pattern is in effect, the westbound left turn lane and the eastbound right turn lane on Veterans Parkway will be closed at the Eighth Street intersection. These closures are to ensure that traffic does not back up on Eighth Street and onto Veterans Parkway.

The state fair parade route and staging area will be the same as last year. The parade will begin at the intersection of Ninth Street and North Grand Avenue and continue into the Main Gate via Peoria Road and 11th Street. The staging area will be bounded by North Grand, 10th Street, Carpenter Street and Eighth Street. Some additional staging will be set up along North Grand between Ninth and 11th Street.

Portable, changeable message signs at the fairgrounds will advise motorists prior to the traffic pattern change.

The approximate times of traffic pattern changes are as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 13

Fairgrounds traffic pattern:

Between 5:30 and 6 a.m., one-way counterclockwise traffic will begin around the fairgrounds.

State fair parade traffic pattern:

At approximately 11:30 a.m. the Ninth Street staging area will be closed. Ninth Street will be closed between Carpenter Street and North Grand Avenue.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., Ninth Street will be closed between North Grand and Peoria Road. Peoria Road will be closed from Ninth to 11th Street. Eleventh Street will be closed from Peoria Road to the fairgrounds Main Gate.

At approximately 4:45 p.m. the staging area will be closed along North Grand between Ninth and 11th Street.

Parade detour signing will be in place to assist motorists around the parade route. Motorists will be able to bypass the parade area to the east by using 19th Street and Carpenter. Motorists will be able to bypass the parade area to the west by using Fifth Street, Sixth Street, North Grand and J. David Jones Parkway.

The parade is scheduled to begin at approximately 6 p.m. and is expected to end by 10 p.m. However, the parade route will remain closed until midnight to allow for city crews to perform street sweeping and cleanup duties.

Monday, Aug. 24

Fairgrounds traffic pattern:

Between 5:30 and 6 a.m., one-way counterclockwise traffic will end.

[Text from Illinois Department of Transportation file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]