Road closures and heavy traffic were expected to continue on DuSable Lake Shore Drive and in Chicago’s Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods Friday as the funeral service of fallen Chicago police officer John Bartholomew begins.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management sent out an alert about the traffic impacts, telling drivers to expect “severe congestion and delays” due to the memorial events, which started Thursday.
Closures begin at 9 a.m. Friday, around St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church which is on North Sheridan Road. The funeral begins at 10 a.m., with streets opening back up around 3 p.m, after a procession to a private burial service.
There are three main roads impacted: DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Sheridan Road and Bryn Mawr Avenue. Photos and video of ‘No Parking’ signs were captured near St. Andrew’s Thursday, with parking already limited in the area.
For Friday’s morning drive, after 6 a.m., lane closures should be expected on DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Foster to Hollywood. An alternate on the North Side is Clark or Ashland.
For an alternate to Bryn Mawr, take Foster of Thorndale instead. For those looking for a way to attend the service Friday service, the CTA has normal Red Line train service to the Bryn Mawr station, which is four blocks from the church.
For those paying their respects coming from downtown or the northern suburbs, Metra’s UP-N line stops at Peterson/Ridge, a short ride-share trip from the church.
NBC Chicago will stream the funeral service Friday in the player above once it begins.
Bartholomew, 38, was shot and killed in the line of duty last month. According to officials, Bartholomew and his partner were transporting a suspect in a nearby armed robbery to Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital after the suspect, Alphanso Talley, told police he had swallowed multiple narcotics and was having trouble breathing.
Once inside the hospital, Talley pulled a gun concealed under his hospital gown, fatally shooting Bartholomew and critically wounding his partner.
Talley faces multiple felony charges, including first degree murder.
