CHICAGO - Driving on Legendary Lower Wacker Drive

Wacker Drive is a major multilevel street in Chicago, Illinois, running along the south side of the main branch and the east side of the south branch of the Chicago River in the Loop.
The vast majority of the street is double-decked; the upper level intended for local traffic, and the lower level for through-traffic and trucks serving buildings on the road (and originally a dock). It is sometimes cited as a precursor to the modern freeway, though when it was built the idea was that pleasure vehicles would use the upper level. It is the only street in the city that is prefixed with all four cardinal directions, albeit on different parts of its route. The drive is named for early 20th century Chicago businessman and city planner Charles H. Wacker.
The upper level is normally known as Upper Wacker Drive and the lower level is Lower Wacker Drive. A short part has a third level, sometimes called Lower Lower Wacker Drive.

[@kc8747]

I remember driving in high school and I got lost down here one day. I thought it was never going to end.

[@drivingdude8849]

Driving on Lower Wacker is strange.

[@lisaharris1469]

This is a beautiful city. I just completed a tour of the city and our tour bus travelled through the tunnels. It’s amazing how it seems it’s another life there.

[@drivingdude8849]

Chicago is absolutely amazing.

[@Xkikax6]

Way better than New York

[@drivingdude8849]

@@Xkikax6 NYC is terrible now. I used to like to go there for a day or two but now I am scarred to do it.

[@Xkikax6]

It’s so cool that there’s traffic lights inside a tunnel! That tunnel is massive, I like it! It’s like basically a whole underground street. I love Chicago! I live here on the southern part like 50 feet from Indiana. I barely get to go up North where it’s beautiful so I always watch Chicago videos! My favorite city ❤

[@drivingdude8849]

Chicago is a beautiful city... no question.

[@joaquinhernandez9338]

This really helped me out as a truck driver looking where I needed to go 👍

[@drivingdude8849]

I am glad to hear that.

[@LowDoseAspirin]

Nice ride proving it's possible to drive from the old post office to Navy Pier & back in 15 minutes 😏

[@drivingdude8849]

Lower Wacker Dr. is usually the fastest option.

[@lsrxc]

Wish I saw this 2 weeks ago. Wrong lane for the Wacker exit by the LSD/split at Navy Pier. Missed the 290 exit and ended up on Harrison. Thanks for this. Hope your suspension didn't get bashed with all of the potholes and surface breaks.

[@drivingdude8849]

Actually, my suspension will need some work pretty soon. 😟

[@Samson-bf6xi]

thanks for this video. I loose track when I'm looking for the spot hero parking garage on stetson due to GPS losing signal but this video allowed me to navigate easy this time around.

[@drivingdude8849]

I am glad it helped. Actually, I am getting an itch to make another video at Lower Wacker Drive.

[@Samson-bf6xi]

@@drivingdude8849 that be cool. include if you can the drive from wacker to 290 because I always get confused where to go from there to get out lol

[@infamouschris8607]

It's like another world, strange but fascinating. It's just a shame you didn't ride at the lowest level. But thanks anyway, good video!

[@drivingdude8849]

I will next time...

[@TYSofficial]

Lower Wacker Drive is just so dang interesting

[@drivingdude8849]

Defiitively!

[@BryantHubbartSr]

You should see Lower, Lower Wacker Drive

[@TYSofficial]

@@BryantHubbartSr Nah. I'm going to Even lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower, lower Wacker Drive. I heard there's this guy named Satan that roams around there or something.

[@techman8817]

@@TYSofficialif you dig deep enough anywhere on earth, you eventually reach a low wacker drive.

[@DLE146]

Amazing! Underground Chicago!!

[@drivingdude8849]

Even decades later I still remember the strange feeling I had driving Lower Wacker for the first time.

[@DLE146]

@@drivingdude8849 Impressive!!!

[@truckerchet13]

When I was a kid we used to drag race down there

[@drivingdude8849]

It still goes on...

[@RoadTripAmericaAndBeyond]

Great quality. Using a go pro? Do you put it on your roof?

[@drivingdude8849]

Thank you. I have been using Sony FDR-AX53 attached to a dashboard to film it.

[@AlphaQ23]

I found my self in there accidentally. Was in my truck terminal in Gary Indiana wanted some food from Chicago so drove in.. it routed me in Lower wacker and I was confused as phaq... but made my way through and it let me out side that maze... and the gps took me to the wrong restaurant .. the route to the One I was going for didn't take me back in. I remember just thinking.. WTF is this? Now I know... and the part there is a lower Wacker than that too.. That also blew my mind....

[@drivingdude8849]

Lower Wacker can be confusing.

[@broden4838]

0:27 Kinda wished they had that weird exit sign left intact before the reconstruction

[@drivingdude8849]

They removed it?

[@KeweezyGutta]

Belle Isle Island =Taft parkway Pkwy Peoria AZ Ave princess Lavengra Williams Taft St SE

[@driving-walking-travel]

What camera do you use to record the video?

[@drivingdude8849]

Sony FDR-AX53...

[@creatormom123]

What are the cars parked to the right?

[@KeweezyGutta]

Belle Isle Island =Taft parkway Pkwy Peoria AZ Ave princess Lavengra Williams Taft St SE ferry wheels 🎡

[@KeweezyGutta]

Princess Karaoke lora night with Terra princess Lavengra Williams Taft rafting Kate tran trailhead trailers trailing training center for winter sinister sister's anniversary party sunset at Wacker whacker monster jam on my birthday party at Wacker whacker monster jam with my mom in law school she is The rafter of the world and The first one is one of my favorites from New world power generations revolution revolutionary.Taft

[@KeweezyGutta]

Prasiley Park parade graffiti craft Grafton Terrica

[@anakinbarrientos8561]

0

[@anakinbarrientos8561]

I 9

[@maltorro2005]

Great City but the roads could get better quality.

[@drivingdude8849]

No question about it. The roads in Chicago are absolutely terrible.

[@Jayknowsthewaze]

@@drivingdude8849 Man LSD especially needs some serious work. Almost lost a tire to it and all of the potholes and bumps are insane.

[@drivingdude8849]

@@Jayknowsthewaze I agree with you and it isn't just LSD.