Report from 8:30 a.m. 06/06/06
 

Quite a comedy of misinformation this morning. I came North on Mannhein as I always do - avoiding the horror of the exit past the rental car places.

As I was deciding "do I turn left into E/G or right into F" the blinking signs said "Lot E under construction use F/G" and "Lots F/G OPEN". So I think "great, I'll head to G".

Well when I get up toward G I first look left and note that that entire part of E is empty (save a few orphaned cars) and that the entrances are blocked. The signs also were blank - neither "open" or "closed", just blank. I then look right toward G, see a scattering of empty spots and think "I'm home free".

Well, there were also trucks blocking off the entrance to G. So I think - OK back to F for me, and head toward the main E entrance to do a U-turn and head back.

To my surprise, the main entrance to E was open and people were driving in. So I got my ticked and in I went. Everything to the South of the main entrance was open, and everything to the North was closed. There were actually personnel there, directing us and I wound up just East of the train tracks. There were ACRES of empty spaces on the far South and East sides of the open part - clearly everyone is giving up and assuming it is closed, which it is NOT.

So, my advise? Try the main entance to lot E first. I suspect that when that closes to work on the south part of the lot the other entrance (by the kiss and fly) will reopen.

Drove past ORD on my way home tonight... the north 2/3 of E are empty, outside of some long term parkers who likely in for a surprise (in that their cars have been towed when the pavers get to their spots). I would be hopeful that if they have to move those cars, they are gentle and just move them a few spots away. However, this being Chicago, I figure that they will tow them to the other end of the lot (and not keep track) or the tow truck drivers will really screw up their cars in the process of moving them. Third option is that they will just pave around those spots. Would have been nice if the parking company advised folks that they lot was going to be paved before some folks parked for a long time (and who finds it cheaper to park for two weeks than take a limo to the airport?).

F looked almost full, with lots of cars along the fence.