Chicago NYE celebrations to close downtown bridges, streets
CHICAGO - Chicago's Riverwalk will play host to a midnight fireworks show to ring in the New Year, prompting several bridge and road closures.
Fireworks will be launched from six bridges along the Chicago River at midnight. The Riverwalk will be closed at 11 p.m. for the event with Wells Street to Orleans Street remaining open until 12:15 a.m.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) announced several road and bridge closures around Tuesday's festivities.
Street closures
- Franklin/Orleans from Lake Street to Wacker Drive (noon to 4 a.m. on Jan. 1)
- The Franklin Street Bridge over the Chicago River (9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1)
- Wacker Drive from Lake Street to Wells Street (9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1)
Bridge closures
- Franklin Street
- LaSalle Street
- Clark Street
- Dearborn Street
- State Street
Vehicular traffic will be barred from bridges from 11:45 p.m. until 12:15 a.m. Pedestrian bridge access will close from 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The Wabash Avenue and Michigan Avenue bridges will remain open throughout the festivities.
The Chicago River will be closed to boat traffic between Franklin Street and Columbus Avenue from 11:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
The Riverwalk fireworks can be best viewed along the Chicago River from Upper Wacker Drive from McClurg Court to Franklin Street, city officials said.
A New Year's Eve celebration will also be held at Navy Pier's Aon Grand Ballroom. Around 3,000 people are expected to attend Grand Chicago New Year's Eve which features a 70-foot balloon drop and Navy Pier's extended 15-minute fireworks show.