Threat of Falling Ice Shuts Down Chicago Street

By Lisa Chavarria Sunday, Jan 7, 2018

    A portion of a street in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood was closed Sunday because of the threat of falling ice from a frozen-over high-rise. A broken sprinkler system on one of the upper floors of a building at 615 S. Wabash covered the exterior wall in ice, according to Chicago police, leaving most of the fire escape frozen over. Chicago police officers were stationed at both ends of South Wabash Avenue between East Harrison Street and East Balbo Drive, blocking the street to both cars and pedestrians amid a growing concern that the icicles would as temperatures continue to rise after a record cold snap across Chicago. It’s unclear when the street will be reopened, as authorities remained on the scene and city officials were expected to meet Sunday to formulate a plan to remove the ice.