Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Street Closings, Parking Restrictions for Holiday Events

Richmond’s holiday season begins this weekend with the Grand Illumination on Friday, Dec. 3, and the Dominion Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4. Downtown traffic patterns and parking will be adjusted to make way for these events.

Motorists and residents are reminded to pay close attention to street signage indicating detours, street closings and parking restrictions.

For Friday’s Grand Illumination at 6 p.m., the following will be in effect:
  • No parking will be allowed on the south side of East Cary Street between Ninth and 12th streets.
  • Tenth Street will be closed between East Cary and Canal streets.
  • Expect traffic delays on East Cary Street from Ninth to 12th streets from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. as pedestrians and motorists view the light display at the James Center.

For Saturday’s Dominion Christmas Parade, the following will be in effect:

  • The eastbound and westbound lanes of Broad Street will be closed to traffic between North Davis Avenue and Strawberry Street from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The westbound lanes of Broad will be closed to traffic from Robinson Street to Eighth Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • DMV Drive from Leigh Street to Broad will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Leigh from Hermitage Road to North Boulevard will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Seventh Street from Broad to Jackson Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The parade is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. Saturday at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., and travel east on Broad Street, ending at the intersection with Seventh Street.

Also on Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth University has a noon basketball game against The College of William & Mary at the Siegel Center on Broad Street, which is along the parade route. Motorists should anticipate traffic congestion and parking will be limited in the area.

Parking restrictions will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday along the following streets:

  • Broad
  • DMV Drive
  • Leigh
  • Harrison
  • Lodge
  • Marshall
  • Grace
  • Sixth
  • Seventh
  • Eighth

No-parking signs will be posted along these streets and the parade route. All parking restrictions will be strictly enforced. Vehicles parked in restricted areas will be towed at the owner’s expense.