Traffic and Parking Advisory: Des Plaines Campus

Due to the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, use of Lot D at Oakton Community College’s Des Plaines campus will be restricted to feast patrons beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, until 6 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, to accommodate shuttle service to the feast. Lot A on the west side of campus will be used as an alternate parking lot.

Beginning 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, traffic closures will take place on Central Road and River Road in Des Plaines, Central Road at East River Road (to any westbound traffic), and Central Road at Wolf Road (to any eastbound traffic). It is expected that Central Road will remain closed until after the rush hour on Thursday, Dec. 12, during which time all vehicle traffic will be required to find an alternative route, using the Golf Road entrance for college access.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration begins at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, and ends with the closing mass at 7 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12.

Approximately 200,000 people are expected to attend the event, depending on the weather conditions. Because of limited parking on the grounds of the church, Oakton Community College is among several off-site parking venues served by shuttle buses to transport visitors to the event. Those using Oakton’s parking facilities are reminded of the college’s alcohol-free campus and of state law prohibiting smoking on all campus property.

Des Plaines Police officers, police vehicles and protective barricades will be on hand to safely manage pedestrian foot traffic at all closed intersections during this time frame. Drivers not attending the event are encouraged to seek alternative traffic routes.