Traffic to be changed around Illinois State Fair

SPRINGFIELD -- It's almost Illinois State Fair time and transportation officials say that means there will be changes in the flow of traffic around the fairgrounds.

The Illinois Department of Transportation says traffic around the fairgrounds in Springfield will run in a counterclockwise one-way pattern. That means there will be several closures

The changes start Thursday morning.

The fair starts Friday in Springfield and runs until Aug. 23. The diverted traffic pattern will end the following day.

Hundreds of food vendors will be at the state fair and entertainment will include performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd and American Idol Kelly Clarkson.