Detroit Grand Prix track nearly ready with minimal disruption to traffic
For the first time since 1991, Indy Cars will soon be flying down Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit.
In less than 36 hours, Detroit will be home to the screeching tires of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
The event moved from Belle Isle to the city core this year and organizers are trying to disrupt a minimal amount of traffic all while keeping an international border open.
“We're in crunch time now. It's all it's all becoming real,” said Michael Montri, the president of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.
He said crews will close another road Wednesday night and work through the wee hours to complete the track build-out.
“And through the day tomorrow to be ready for on track action on Friday morning,” said Montri.
This year’s track is only 1.7 miles long, about 600 metres shorter than the course on Belle Isle.
Organizers did that purposefully to keep the races on the riverfront and south of Jefferson Avenue to avoid interfering with the bustling downtown district.
“We want the businesses to benefit we want people to come down Park and go to a restaurant and then come to the event,” said Montri. “We want to have that walkability, that a downtown really gives you especially downtown Detroit.”
The track build-out took only 30 days and main roads like Jefferson Avenue have been open the whole time until 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Crews are making a final push to wrap up the build-out before racers arrive Thursday.
“It's a shortened build, but we're in really good shape and looking forward to it,” said Montri. “We're on schedule everything feels like a rush when you're trying to get done with a hard deadline like we have, but, but we're in good shape.”
The international border remains open throughout this entire process, race day included.
There are paid tickets available with grandstand seating, but anyone strolling along the river-walk or Hart Plaza can get up next to the track and watch for free the whole weekend.
“We have free viewing platforms scattered across the circuit so you can wander around and get up in the air a little bit and watch,” Montri said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.