Illinois Department of Transportation Alters Fairground-Area Traffic Patterns to Boost Safety for State Fair

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) today announced that traffic pattern changes for the 2013 Illinois State Fair will be implemented starting Thursday, August 8, 2013 to boost safety and accommodate the parade along with anticipated traffic. Traffic patterns will be changed to a counterclockwise one-way pattern around the state fairgrounds starting from Thursday, August 8th to Sunday, August 18th. Portable changeable message signs will be located at the fairgrounds advising motorists prior to the traffic pattern change.

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 8th Street intersection. These closures are to ensure that traffic does not back up on 8th 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 9th 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 Avenue, 10th Street, Carpenter Street, and 8th Street. Some additional staging will be set up along North Grand Avenue between 9th Street and 11th Street.

The approximate times of traffic pattern changes are as follows:

Thursday, August 8th

Fairgrounds Traffic Pattern:
Between 5:30 a.m. & 6:00 a.m. one-way counterclockwise traffic will begin around the fairgrounds.
      
State Fair Parade Traffic Pattern:
At approximately 11:30 a.m. the 9th Street staging area will be closed. 9th Street will be closed between Carpenter Street and North Grand Avenue.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., 9th Street will be closed between North Grand Avenue and Peoria Road. Peoria Road will be closed from 9th Street to 11th Street. 11th 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 Avenue between 9th Street 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 Street. Motorists will be able to bypass the parade area to the west by using 5th St. / 6th St. / North Grand and J. David Jones Pkwy.

The parade is scheduled to begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. The parade is expected to end by 10:00 p.m., however the parade route will remain closed until midnight to allow for City crews to perform street sweeping and cleanup duties.

Monday, August 19th

Fairgrounds Traffic Pattern:

Between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., one-way counterclockwise traffic will end.

If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact Marshall Metcalf at 217/785-5312.