Chicago Schedules Public Safety Drill Downtown Thursday Night

CHICAGO — Downtown will go on a pretend lockdown Thursday night as city departments conduct a "public safety drill" as part of preparations to protect the Central Business District and "ensure the safety of large public gatherings and heavily trafficked pedestrian areas," city officials said.

"The focus of this exercise is to ensure the safety and well-being of residents, workers, businesses and peaceful gatherings. The drill is not in response to any event but has been planned for weeks as part of our ongoing safety efforts," according to a statement from the Office of Emergency Management.

Officials said the training exercise will likely cause traffic disruptions between 6 and 9 p.m. Thursday as city departments practice staging "critical infrastructure" within the drill's perimeter between Division and 18th streets and Lake Shore Drive and Clark Street.

"Access will not be restricted," but the drill is "not open to the media," according to the news release.