As sure as corn dogs, lemon shakeups and mini donuts, traffic pattern changes on the roads surrounding the Illinois State Fairgrounds are part of the fair, which starts on Aug. 7.
Officials from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Agriculture said the traffic patterns will accommodate the influx of vehicles during the fair.
Here's what you need to know.
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What traffic patterns are changing?
Traffic along East Sangamon Avenue, North Peoria Road, Taintor Road and North Fifth Street surrounding the fairgrounds will shift to one-way in a counterclockwise direction.
That means traffic along Sangamon Avenue from Fifth Street to Peoria Road will go east, Peoria Road from Sangamon Avenue to Taintor Road will go north, Taintor Road from Peoria Road to North Fifth Street will travel west and North Fifth Street will travel south from Taintor Road back to Sangamon Avenue.
In addition, the eastbound and westbound turn lanes from Veterans Parkway to Eighth Street will be closed.
Will there be any kind of signage?
IDOT will put out portable electronic signs and barricades along the routes to assist motorists. The signs also are designed to let the public know about gate parking changes on a daily basis. Other traffic control devices will help direct the traffic in the proper direction and discourage motorists from entering into oncoming traffic.
When do the changes take effect?
The temporary changes will begin at 5 a.m. Aug. 7 and return to normal by 6 a.m. Aug. 18, the day after the fair closes.
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Twilight Parade route
The Twilight Parade steps off from Lincoln Park at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 7.
The parade route remains the same, going onto Sangamon Avenue from the park, entering through the Main Gate. The parade will go down Main Street and turn left on Grandstand Avenue, exiting into Lot 21.
Staging for the parade will begin in the park at 1:30 p.m. The parade route will close to traffic at 4 p.m. and is expected to reopen around 9 p.m.
Members of the ABC Business Club of Springfield will serve as grand marshals for the parade.
Detour signs will be up at North Grand Avenue, Veterans Parkway and J. David Jones Parkway.
The 34th annual Twilight Parade Run covering a two-mile course will begin at 5 p.m. It is put on by the Springfield Road Runners Club.
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Because of the parade, there will be no public parking at Lincoln Park or at the Nelson Center. Those accessing Nelson Center facilities can do so by using First Street and Black Avenue.
Public parking prohibitions
Beginning Aug. 7, public parking will be prohibited on neighborhood streets south of Sangamon Avenue. These changes will remain in effect until the morning of Monday, Aug. 18.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: What to know about Illinois State Fair traffic pattern changes
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