City closes major routes to downtown following looting; police to check IDs to allow workers and residents in

In response to looting and shootings that occurred early Monday, the city is restricting train and road access to downtown, requiring workers and residents to show identification to police to gain access and deploying officers to commercial corridors around the city.

Access to the downtown area will be restricted from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. “until further notice,” according to information released Monday evening by the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC).

“All residents, essential workers and employees whose businesses are located downtown will have access at all times,” according to the OEMC.

Access points where residents and workers can enter downtown will be at Harrison Street, Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street, Roosevelt Road and Canal Street, Kinzie Street and Halsted Street and LaSalle Street, according to the OEMC.

“Entrance into the perimeter will be manned by officers with the Chicago Police Department. When arriving at the access points, residents and employees should show identification or proof that they live in the area and/or work in the area,” according to the OEMC.

From 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., the following measures will be in place:

Lake Shore Drive will be closed between Fullerton Avenue to the north and I-55 to the south.

All downtown expressway ramps from Roosevelt Road to Division Street will be closed in both directions.

A series of downtown bridges will be raised at 8 p.m., with the exception of the following bridges: LaSalle Street, Harrison Street, Ida B. Wells/Congress Bridge (West Bound Open Only), Lake Shore Drive, Columbus Avenue, Kinzie Street and Grand Avenue.

CTA trains will stop well short of downtown, going no further than Fullerton Avenue, 47th and Halsted streets.

CTA buses will remain open, though some buses will see reroutes due to bridge and street closures.

Divvy bikes will not be available near downtown in an area bordered by North Avenue, Ashland Avenue and Cermak Road.

“The restricted access to the downtown area is NOT a curfew,” according to the OEMC.