Emergency crews arrived promptly Friday morning to begin cleanup operations outside the United Center, just hours after festivities for the four-day Democratic National Convention ended.

Outside the arena, emergency services gradually dismantled the security fences and removed the barricades.

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications said emergency crews will work throughout the weekend to dismantle everything as quickly as possible, but vehicle safety checks are a priority.

“I’m ready for it to go away immediately,” said local resident James Redding.

City officials plan to reopen Damen, Wood and Adams and most major intersections by Saturday afternoon. Cermak will be cleared from Michigan to Indiana by Sunday morning. At 8 a.m., streets around McCormick Place — where a number of convention events were held — will reopen.

“They did their best,” said resident Sylvester Doyle. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, it was just too much hassle to get in – I had people visiting up here.”

Doyle lives near Washington Boulevard and Wolcott Avenue and is helping an Alabama family in need.

As residents prepare for a return to normality despite the closures and detours, they are aware that history has been made in their neighborhood.

“I’m glad they brought it here,” Redding said.

The city hopes to reopen the streets and clear everything by Monday.