CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
When World Leaders descend on McCormick place for the NATO Summit security concerns will mean inconveniences all around the area. But anyone who plans to visit the museum campus on Sunday will now have to make alternative plans.
The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium will all be closed Sunday May 20th. And starting at 6pm Saturday the entire campus around them, including Northerly Island, will be off limits to pedestrians as well. The reason: parties.
"The President's dinner at Soldier Field, the First Lady's dinner at the Art Institute, additionally the host committee has announced it's two dinners the dinner at the Field Museum, the delegate dinner at Navy Pier, there are still three official events which are planned for the Summit itself," said Lori Healey, Executive Director of the NATO Host Committee.
Other restrictions will include parking around the Willis Tower which will host another party. And sail boaters beware: none of the bridges over the main, south and north branches of the Chicago River will be lifting for masts from 7am Friday until 7am Monday.
The Kennedy will remain open, except for occasional rolling closures for some motorcades, but Gary Schenkele, the executive director of OEMC, says many won't impact traffic at all.
"If you painted them black and white they'd look like taxicabs because they have to stop at the stop signs, they have to obey traffic laws and they are not lengthy, they do not block traffic, the department will not be out there blocking traffic or anything for them," Schenkele said.
But during the summit Lake Shore Drive will be shut down from Balbo to 39th Street as will I-55 east of the Ryan and most of the side streets around McCormick Place. But the Secret Service says all residents in the impacted areas will be able to drive in and out and businesses can remain open, although customers may have to walk half a block or so.
