Holiday Events Close Some Streets; Restrict Parking

Richmond’s holiday season begins this weekend with the Grand Illumination on Friday, Dec. 2, and the Dominion Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3. 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 9th 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 West 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 West Broad Street will be closed to traffic from Robinson Street to 8^th Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• DMV Drive from Leigh Street to West Broad Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Leigh Street from Hermitage Road to North Boulevard will be closed from
  7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Seventh Street from East Broad Street to Jackson Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 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 7^th Street.

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.

Citizens should also be aware of the Lincoln movie filming around the Capitol area and Governor’s mansion. Starting at 10 a.m. Friday and continuing through 2 a.m. Saturday, there will be intermittent traffic control, such as stopping all traffic for brief periods of time, on East Broad Street between 9^th and 14^th Street.

Motorists coming into the city on the Downtown Expressway should also be aware that ongoing construction has reduced the number of lanes into the city at night to three lanes.

The Department urges everyone to have patience and plan for a little extra time in trying to get to their destinations.