Motorists traveling through northern Des Plaines on Rand and River roads Thursday afternoon and evening should prepare for heavy traffic and road closings.
Following a funeral Mass for Cardinal Francis George at noon Thursday at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, a funeral procession will travel north to the eastern section of Des Plaines’ All Saints Cemetery for a committal service, according to a statement from Des Plaines officials.
The cemetery is just south of the intersection of River and Central roads. The burial service is open to the public.
Beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday, River Road from Golf Road on the south to Central Road on the north will be closed to accommodate the funeral procession, officials said.
That section of River Road likely will remain closed until about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Des Plaines police.
Intermittent street closings along the procession route also are expected. The route winds through the northwest section of Chicago to Milwaukee Avenue in Niles. It then proceeds to Dempster Street, Rand Road and finally River Road in Des Plaines, according to Des Plaines officials.
Traffic from Dempster to Rand will be especially heavy during the afternoon and evening, and drivers are encouraged to use Wolf Road, Waukegan Road, Mount Prospect Road and Illinois Route 83 as alternatives for north and south travel, officials said. Touhy Avenue, Oakton Street and Central Road or Lake Avenue are recommended as alternatives for east and west travel.
The neighborhood bordered by the Des Plaines River on the east and Rand and River roads on the west will be highly affected by traffic and road closings in the area, officials said.
For more information about road closings and procession-related traffic, call Des Plaines police at 847-391-5400.