Gurnee IL – If you are planning to hit the road and go to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago IL, General Mitchell international Airport in Milwaukee WI, or just want to take the entire family on a cross-country road trip to celebrate America’s 250-year anniversary, of being independent from the United Kingdom and the signing of the declaration of independences on July 4th, 1776.

The Gurnee Police Department is teaming up with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement across the state of Illinois to crack down on drink driving also distracted drivers and unbuckled drivers during the 4th of July Holiday weekend to make the roads safer on June 19 – July 6th. The Gurnee police ask for people to celebrate safely and make sure that you have designate a sober driver or take public transpiration like Metra and pace Bus or a uber and don’t let your friends or family members drive impaired. Not only is it the law, but it’s also your best defense against an impaired driver. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns are made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The enforcement efforts are complemented by IDOT’s “It’s Not a Game” media campaign, which emphasizes the serious consequences of impaired driving and other unsafe driving behaviors. according to the Gurnee police press release you can read more of the press release on their Facebook page. Metra Trains, Pace Bus and the CTA Bus / Trains also MCTS Bus will be operating on their holiday schedule on July 4th.

This picture was taken by Metra and was from the metra press release.

Metra rolled out with a painted locomotive celebrating America’s 250th anniversary for the July 4th Holiday and you can see this locomotive around the Chicago area according to the press release from Metra this locomotive is the 26th of 42 remanufactured locomotives that Metra ordered from Progress Rail Locomotives of La Grange. The new locomotives, designated as SD70-MACHs, are former freight locomotives that are improved and reconfigured for passenger use with refurbished, upgraded, or new components. Metra also stated that they are proud to present this specially painted locomotive as a gift to the people of the Chicago region, Illinois, and the United States,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “This locomotive also commemorates the important role that railroads played in the expansion and development of our nation. As these locomotive travels the rails, it will do more than push and pull commuter trains in our region. It will carry a message. It will remind everyone who sees it that America’s strength has always come from people working together: from communities connected by steel rails, and from workers committed to service.” If you want to find out more about this locomotive or plan your trip with Metra or chick the holiday / Sunday schedule for Metra, just go to the Metra’s website at metra.com.

The best times to get on the road is early morning and late in the evening on the 3rd of July or take public transportation to get to the Airports you can take Metra NCS line and the CTA Blue line to O’Hare international airport please note that Metra’s North Central Line does not operate on the weekends or Holidays. You can also take the Milwaukee County Transit System’s Green Line Bus to General Mitchall international Airport if you are going to the airport to get a flight out of Chicago IL or Milwaukee WI, please get to the airports early so you can get through TSA and make it to your gate on time and not miss your flight. According to AAA they said that they are expecting about 72.2 million Americans to travel over the Independent’s Day weekend on July 3 to July 7th hitting the roads and going to train stations and airports across the United States also click on this link to the AAA Newsroom to read more about July 4th travel on the AAA website at https://newsroom.aaa.com/ for more.