Wonderful way to bypass the Loop on the way to Lakeshore Drive, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile from the West Loop, Taylor Street, or South Loop areas. Gritty and dark, follows the river underneath Upper Wacker. A lesser known feature of Chicago, Lower Wacker Drive has been shown in several movies shot in Chicago. I suggest that you familiarize yourself with Lower Wacker Drive so you are prepared to use it to your advantage!!! read more

There are plenty of folks who live in Chicago who don't use (or know about) Lower Wacker. It can look very much like a maze, since it's dark and so any of the buildings look the same when you get to that level. But originally Lower Wacker was conceived so that pleasure drivers could use Upper Wacker, whilst service vehicles, trucks, and the like could use the Lower Wacker portion. Some of the entrances are also pretty discreet. I've passed the entrance (that's not directly off a freeway) more than once because.I mistook where it was. Nowadays, many people use Lower Wacker as an alternative to bypass a good deal of traffic on the surface street, which is why I like to use it now and again. It can be an incredibly handy, time-saving shortcut depending upon where you're going. read more

Lower Wacker Drive - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Come here to check out the mole people, actually don't. It may have people living down here, but just stay up on the ground. Lower Wacker Drive is an adventure whether or not you're driving through it. Basically it's like a secret passage, but thousands know it's here. There's been lots of iconic moments. Even if you haven't been here, you've seen it. In several movies it had some important roles. This has been in The Blues Brothers and The Dark Knight, each in chase scenes. It's not just good for the movies. This also serves a practical purpose. It helps alleviate traffic above ground. This road is also unique because it curves from north-south to east-west as it follows the river. For those too scared to drive it, they can get a peek from some of the stairs leading from Upper Wacker Drive. It feels pretty dank in here. There's a lot of homeless camps, because it's warm in winter. read more

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Lower Wacky Drive is crazy. So is this road. One of my favorite things in all of Chicago and indeed all of the Midwest and indeed all of the United States especially when it comes to Urban Roads. What they've done is they've built an entire system of roads in Subterranean Chicago which makes the whole city float so much better. I mean flow, but that too, kinda. Or is that Venice. Anyway. Sure there is still a lot of gridlock in Chicago and sure things could work better than they do. But one of the reasons you don't quite have the New York City and DC and LA and level of gridlock is because of Lower Wacker and the other Subterranean roads. Lower Wacker is probably the most famous subterranean speedy Road in Chicago and no trip to Chicago is complete without navigating it. Now if they can build an even greater interconnected expanse of these roads so you can really get around Chicago at high speed it would add a lot to the experience. I doubt they ever will but they totally should. read more

Lower Wacker Drive - I'm going to have to lower my expectations - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wacker? I hardly know her! What's going on here, Chicago?! This is like seeing the underbelly of the beast- the under-workings of the city. The side of the city that's not glamorous, everything isn't covered in gilded shiny surfaces, but covered in dirt and road salt. They decided that traffic was so bad and things at the bottom were so ugly that they'd just raise the whole city up a level and start over again. This lower level allows for freight, traffic, but preferably not pedestrians. It's not as busy as the upper streets and seems a bit on the dodgy side at night. It looks like it'd be a nightmare to drive on. I wouldn't dare try taking a bike in here! The sidewalks are narrow, and there isn't much to see other than the fume-clogged roadways under the city. It's an engineering marvel, and is worth sticking your head into, but I certainly wouldn't go hanging out here. read more

It took us over a year until we were willing to brave Lower Wacker, and even then it was a 2-person job: one person gripping the steering wheel, dodging pillars and handling the sharp curves and sudden lane closures; the other person carefully consulting a smartphone to figure out how on earth to descend and emerge in the right places. But it's gotten to the point where our most-traveled destinations on Lower Wacker are almost routine and I can even handle it by myself from time to time. I felt like I'd just accessed a bonus level in a video game. Of course now that I've accessed that level I find myself with new challenges, like learning all the entrances to Lower Wacker from the West Side, and maybe eventually the side passages too. Ah, the thrill of the chase . . . read more

SECRET SPY I remember the first time I ever rode down here and I was scared to death. I must have been like 16 and I was riding with one of my parents employees. He was making a delivery to a client and I went with him so he wouldn't have to pay for parking. He hit lower Waker at 75 miles an hour. I had to hold on for dear life because we were riding in a Jeep Wrangler with the top down. I thought I was going to die or fly out of the vehicle. I had no idea where we were at but I was amazed to learn Chicago had an underground road that bypassed the whole city. How cool was that? Since then the underground road has been remodeled. It looks nothing like the dark seedy road to the underworld, it once resembled. There are actually lights down here now so you don't hit something like a Yeti, Big Foot or a Giant Rat. The road has been improved and looks like it will be good for another 100 years. Many people are confused as to where lower Wacker runs. Just imagine you are on upper Wacker but now driving below it with no traffic and hardly any stop lights. It follows along the same path. So you might be asking yourself, "How did this double decker road come into existence?" It all happen in 1909 when architects Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett drew up a plan to unite Chicago's urban design and increase its physical beauty. One area that needed help was traffic flow. This double decker roadway was one of their many recommendations to relieve the congestion at Rush and River Street. At that time more then 50% of the north - south traffic crossed the river there. And you might be wondering why it's called Wacker? Well Charles H. Wacker, who was the chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission loved this idea and pushed it to be constructed. The original road was completed in 1926 and at a cost of $8 million dollars and only went from Lake to Michigan Avenue. The road was extended between 1948 and 1954 all the way to Congress Parkway. Another extension was built in 1975 connecting the road to Lake Shore Drive. So as you can see this road has grown over the years and it started with a vision to improve the beauty and quality of life in Chicago. We really need to remember David Burnham because we owe much of the beauty of our great city to him. We also can not forget the Hollywood appeal of Lower Wacker, which has appeared in many films. Most recently in Batman Begins, who can forget Batman chasing the horrible Joker on these dark hidden streets. This scene is one of the most amazing action movie scenes in Hollywood history. I also can't forget the hilarious Blues Brothers as the entered Lower Wacker at Van Buren in a high speed police chase. The sign that says, "turn on your headlights" is still there. Jake and Elwood at least followed some of the laws as they were chased across the city. So as you can see this road has been a vital artery in making Chicago great. It was meant to keep Chicago moving and it keeps that dream alive every day. So don't be afraid to go underground and take the quickest trek across the city. Make sure you throw your seat belt on and enjoy the ride because Lower Wacker rocks. read more

If you don't know about Lower Wacker Drive don't be sad. Because THEY don't want you to know about it. THEY are the cabbies, couriers, truck drivers and others who are making this the City That Works while you are up top sipping your mojitos and nibbling on your edamame. THEY know that you can get from Halsted and Jackson to LSD in about 6 minutes at prime rush hour time while you are sitting in your Jetta at Washington and State gnawing at your freshly manicured nails. THEY know. But now, thanks to me, so do you. Please...don't tell THEM I told you. Thanks. An aside: Damn, I was all thinking that I was gonna be a first in reviewing LWD but you scooped me Carrie and Vitas. I bow to you good madame and sir. read more

The best shortcut in town. Go from the Opera house to Navy Pier and LSD in like 5 minutes even during rush hour. I kind of hate that yelp has a listing of it. But I use it a lot, so for honesty's sake must confirm its existence. If you decide to use this (or even drive anywhere in the Chicago area or highways), please do everyone a favor and drive fast, hard and close like a Chicagoan, not some nervous suburbanite. If you don't tailgate and you create a huge gap (big enough for one car) in front of you, YOU ARE RUINING IT FOR EVERYONE. Sorry just had to get that off my chest. read more

I strongly, strongly recommend (urge, strongly) taking Lower Wacker Drive, listening to the soundtrack from the James Caan 1981 film "Thief". This is best done past sundown. There are no words (well, aside from the recommendation). read more

Lower Wacker Drive - Transit heaven, my haven from congestion and annoying tourists Your younger retarded brother, Boston's Big Dig, wishes it was like you From Washington to lower Columbus a mere 7 minutes A local's secret delight My favorite race track at night read more

So if you want to feel like you are on another planet, go down to what is called "Lower Lower Wacker Drive", the 3rd level down. There is a ramp on South Water Street near the Hyatt Regency, to get down to each level. When you get down there, you see grass, not cement, and it is very quiet down there. That is the level where the auto pound is. But as i look across the river to the north side, there is a Lower Lower Wacker and i have no idea how to get to that one. I only know the one on the south side of the river. read more

After a delicious brunch with my Sis, we decide to go for a walk that leads us down lower Wacker Drive, neither of us talking so much as enjoying each other's company. I point out the spots where they shot the chase scene in The Dark Knight. Along East Wacker we walk along the river, which still has a residual tint of green to it from Saint Patrick's Day. I'm looking over the railings when my Sis says something and I ask her to repeat it. "Isn't there something that you really want? Like more than anything else?" Because of Wacker's double decker structure, noise is captured on the lower level and echoes so loud that we have to cup our ears to hear. Part of the marathon course runs through here and I can only imagine how loud it'll get. I stare at her, a cold, distant wave of fright washes over me, dousing something. I clear my throat again and, trying to speak with great purposefulness, tell her, "I was at Cafe Jumping Bean the other night... where me and, you know who, went--" Trucks and luxury cars rush past us, weaving around the webs of iron pillars. She rolls her eyes but motions for me to continue. "Anyway," I sigh, "I saw this video... about an elderly man in Brazil... lives next to the beach... and one day he hears... squeaking... in his yard... and he goes to check... and there's this... penguin... covered in oil... barely moving... so... he... nurses it... back to health... the penguin... meets... his family... they feed it sardines... and when it's better... the man... releases it... back... to... sea... but... when... he... gets home... the penguin is there... it stays with him... the penguin... it lives with him... then... goes... to sea... for a few months... then... returns... and follows the man... the penguin... coos... as the man... pets it... you can... literally... see... their bond." "And?" My sis asks cautiously. I close my eyes, and words fall from my mouth, these lips: "I... want... that... penguin... to... love... me." To break the uncomfortable silence that follows, I mention all I can come up with, which is, "The polyphenols in coffee that turn your teeth brown also make them more acid resistant and fortified against cavities." Pause. "Did you know that?" read more

I first learned about lower wacker when I was around 12 or 13. That's when my dad started working downtown on michigan and lake and I'd ride with him and my grandad on lower wacker ever day as my grandad almost always gave my dad a ride to and from work. That was over 20 years ago. I have had jobs where I've worked downtown and during those times, I regularly took lower wacker to race through the city to get to I290 or I94. Truly a timesaver as you can race through the loop even during rush hour at a breakneck pace. I hated when it was closed. but it has been rebuilt and fully operational again for a while now. Whenever I drive downtown, I will try to take this route if I can. read more

I have NEVER enjoyed driving down there. You lose your GPS signal almost immediately. Then GPS will have you trying to turn the wrong way down one-way streets. It's pure hell every single time. I am now on a quest to figure out how to memorize points so I can dodge it altogether. The minute I see a turn on "Columbus," I know shenanigans are soon to follow. If GPS worked down there, it wouldn't be so bad. I didn't understand two colleagues who are Uber and Lyft drivers who told me they avoid it at all costs. Now I understand why. read more

There is some construction going on that makes Lower Wacker not as swift as it once was, but it's an amazing shortcut through downtown. It's packed during rush hour, yes, but it's nothing compared to the pedestrian traffic above ground. You also get to feel like Batman if you're cruising around here after midnight. read more

I use it primarily to get to LSD and, in reverse, to Harrison and Franklin. Rarely use the ramps into downtown. Scenic in a weird way. Cool glimpses of the city at water level. Can't wait 'til they finally finish the bridge at Harrison near the post office. Featured in a few racing video games and you can see why...Also turns up in many movies filmed here. 'The Dark Knight', 'Henry...Portrait of a Serial Killer' and others. Sweet for ducking traffic most times of day. A little congested with delivery trucks during the morning rush. read more

Great way to get across town in a hurry. Nothing at all scary about it once you've done it a couple of times. However, I have a question. At Harrison as I'm entering Lower Wacker I see ramps coming up from below to both Upper Wacker and Lower Wacker. My question is ... Where are those ramps feeding in from? read more

"Lower Wacker" sounds like something you don't tell Mom about, and it looks like you've entered another world with all the sparkly lights and strange ramps going places untold, but it sure is a fast way around the Loop. read more

Normally, I hate all things traffic and transportation especially in Chicago, but I love Lower Wacker Drive. I'm not a big fan of its ugly cousin Upper Wacker Drive where cabs and cars only view pedestrians as target practice. Back to Lower Wacker Drive, this street is probably the coolest in Chicago. It's been featured in various movies because it's just that cool. I enjoy the twists and the turns of this awesome street. My bf also loves this street and given the opportunity will take it instead of other streets. If it isn't a Chicago landmark, it should be. read more

I love love love you lower wacker. Your fun to just crank the tunes up and start jamming as you make loops and turns. Except I hate the cab drivers all know you. Omg then the free parking by michigan ave is the greatest unless they changed it. Ohhh then the homeless people with their shit on the floor is just disgusting and the smell of urine is just eww and nasty. But they filmed such great movies on you like The Dark Night. And you also escape the traffic. How I love you lower wacker. read more

Traffic in Chicago is sooo bad, I do not want anybody clogging up my shortcut...

I almost would want a car solely to demonstrate how efficiently I could get around driving on lower Wacker...

I truly thought we were headed to the depths of hell. I made a wrong turn and ended up in a Nightmare. I prayed the whole time. It was very dark and scary. Unless You are a Professional driver DON'T DO IT!!! read more

I've waited a long time for this day. Lower Wacker Drive has finally reopened! It helps that TDK is on TV totally showcasing LWD in all its glory. I'm looking forward to revisiting and cutting my commute in half. I highly recommend this route, but only if you know how to drive - please do not slow meh down! read more

Maybe at one time Lower Wacker use to be super efficient but now its like a parking lot, construction,traffic, very slow moving now days...

I drove it when I worked (construction) of the Standard Oil Building (sorry,Aon).It used to end in a grassy parking lot. Every evening there would be someone with a dead battery. Turn your lights on for LWD and drive out into the daylight and forget to turn lights off. No beeps or auto lights back then. I used to take out of town friends on UWD and then without saying anything, zip down the ramp to the "Emerald City ". That was so cool. What? Don't tell me the green lights are gone! read more

i love lower wacker drive! it gets me to and from work about 20 minutes faster than having to cut through the loop. your swift and have the longest green lights in the city. you twist and turn underneath the loop and get me through in no time at all. it's all business on your pavement as cars shoot through your tunnel and nearly any pedestrians get in their way, save for a few brave souls or lost tourists looking for the billy goat. kudos for being such a great street! read more

ok i dont know why some one would care for this unless they are a big fan of driving , as for myself i ride my bike all over the place and i did one day down here did not care at all for it. read more