Prepare for a Slew of Street Closures in Philly

Photo courtesy CodyJung via Creative Commons

You might want to think ahead if you’re planning to drive anywhere in Philly this weekend.

Four events will prompt street closures (five if you count Thursday as an early start to the weekend). To help deter you from commuting chaos, we’ve compiled a list of those gatherings (including festivals, parades and runs) and how they’ll impact our streets. 

Thursday, June 15th:

Old City Eats Kick-Off Street Festival

The Old City District will hold a block party on 2nd Street (featuring 25 food vendors!) between 5 and 8 p.m.

Starting at 12 p.m. and lasting until about 10 p.m., police will close 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets. Expect heavy traffic in the area.

Saturday, June 17th:

Schuylkill Navy Regatta

Kelly Drive will close between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The road will be detoured from the Strawberry Mansion Bridge to Fountain Green Drive.

Southbound Kelly Drive traffic will be detoured up the Strawberry Mansion ramp to Fountain Green Drive via Reservoir Drive. Northbound Kelly Drive traffic will be detoured up Fountain Green Drive along the same route.

Juneteenth Parade

The parade, which commemorates the oldest national celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States, will kick off in Center City at 12 p.m.

The parade will form at 11 a.m. at Washington Square Park on the 6th Street Side, between Walnut Street and South Washington Square. It will run west on South Washington Square to 7th Street; north on 7th Street to Chestnut Street; east on Chestnut Street to 5th Street; north on 5th Street to Market Street; and west on Market Street to 6th Street, where it will stop for about 20 minutes for a ceremony. It will then proceed west on Market Street to 7th Street and north on 7th Street to Arch Street to end at the African American Museum.

Officers will detours cars around the parade route. Traffic in the area is expected to be heavy at times.

Sunday, June 18th:

Gary Papa’s Father Day Run

Several different races are included in the Gary Papa’s Father Day Run – including a 10K, a 5K and a one-mile walk.

The following routes and start times will affect traffic.

7:30 a.m.: The 10K will start on the north side of Eakins Oval and proceed east in the center lanes/inner lanes of the Parkway; clockwise around Logan Circle; back along the center lanes of the Parkway to the south side of Eakins Oval; and proceed up the Martin Luther King Drive to the turn-around, just north of Montgomery Drive; then back down Martin Luther King Drive to the finish line in front of the Art Museum.

8 a.m.: The 5K will start on the north side of Eakins Oval and proceed east in the center lanes/inner lanes of the Parkway; clockwise around Logan Circle; back along the center lanes of the Parkway to the south side of Eakins Oval; and proceed up the Martin Luther King Drive to the turn-around, just south of Girard Avenue Bridge; then back down Martin Luther King Drive to the finish line in front of the Art Museum.

8:30 a.m.: the 5K/1 Mile Fun Walk will start on the north side of the Oval and follow the above 5K run course.

Detours will kick off at 7:30 a.m. Reroutes east of 20th Street should wrap up around 10 a.m. The rest of the Parkway should be opened by noon. Police will be assigned to detours around the race route, but delays are to be expected.

Philly Pride Parade and Festival

The Philly Pride Parade and Festival will run between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at 11:30 at 13th and Locust streets and proceed east on Locust Street to Washington Square; north on West Washington Square; then angle right onto 7th Street; north on 7th Street to Market Street; east on Market Street to Front Street; south on Front Street; then cross the Chestnut Street Viaduct to the entrance to the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing.

Officers will detour cars around the parade route. Traffic in the area could be heavy at times.

Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter.