Sept. 1-2, 2012, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Road Closures for 'Made in America' Concert

The Budweiser Made in America Festival is taking over the parkway, here's how to navigate through the road closures.

By David Chang
|  Friday, Aug 31, 2012  |  Updated 11:58 AM EDT
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NBC10 Philadelphia - Aditi Roy

"Budweiser Made in America" will take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during Labor Day weekend. The setup for the two-day music festival began on Thursday and road closures will last until Labor Day. NBC10's Aditi Roy reports.

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We're a day out from the highly-anticipated “Budweiser Made in America” Festival. The two-day music festival, featuring superstar rapper Jay-Z, rock icons Pearl Jam and a diverse roster of musical acts, will take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. 

Street closures and parking restrictions around the Parkway area began Thursday at 6 a.m. and run through Sept. 3.

All patrons will be directed around to 25th Street to the west entrance of the Art Museum.

During the concert events on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, all traffic headed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be directed to use the parking garage entrance on Waterworks Drive. The only exception will be drivers with America Disabilities Act (ADA) parking, allowing them access to the parking area at the northwest corner of the upper terrace by way of 25th Street and Kelly Drive.

The Mayor’s Office says any motorists who live or work within the confines of the closed areas will be allowed to enter at any of the closure points after showing ID to a police officer onsite. They also say the remainder of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 16th to 20th Streets, may be closed to vehicular traffic if deemed necessary by public safety. If this happens, cross traffic may be restricted on the numbered streets between 16th and 20th Streets.

Here’s a breakdown of the street closures:

Friday, Aug. 31:
  • 6 a.m.-10 a.m.-Traffic will continue on MLK Drive to the outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and to Interstate-676.
  • Kelly Drive will be diverted at Fairmount Avenue. 
  • After 10 a.m., the eastbound outer drive of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed to vehicular traffic, from Eakins Oval to 20th Street. 
  • 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.-The westbound outer drive of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be open to traffic and will lead to Kelly and Martin Luther King Drives. 
  • At 6:30 p.m., the entire event area will be closed to vehicle traffic until Monday , Sept. 3. 

Saturday, Sept. 1:

Concert performances begin at 2 p.m. and will end at 11 p.m. Beginning at 6 a.m., roads in the area of the event will be closed to non-resident traffic, including: 

  • 21st street between Arch and Spring Garden
  • 22nd Street between Arch and Fairmount
  • 23rd Street between Parkway and Fairmount
  • 24th Street from Fairmount to Pennsylvania
  • 25th Street from Fairmount to Pennsylvania
  • Spring Garden between 20th and 31st Streets (including Spring Garden Street tunnel)
  • Kelly Drive from 23rd Street to Fairmount
  • Martin Luther King Drive from Falls Bridge to the Parkway 
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from Hamilton Street to Fairmount Avenue
  • Pennsylvania Avenue closed, from 2000 block of Pennsylvania Ave./Callowhill Street, west of Whole Food lot
  • Park Towne Place from 22nd Street to 24th Street 
While the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and intersections adjacent to the festival perimeter will remain closed, including 21st and 22nd streets at the Parkway, intersections beyond the immediate festival area are expected to open to traffic after midnight 
 
Sunday, Sept. 2:

Concert performances begin at 2 p.m. and will end at 11 p.m. Beginning at 6 a.m., roads in the area will be closed to non-resident traffic, including:

  • 21st Street between Arch and Spring Garden
  • 22nd Street between Arch and Fairmount
  • 23rd Street between Parkway and Fairmount
  • 24th Street from Fairmount to Pennsylvania
  • 25th Street from Fairmount to Pennsylvania 
  • Spring Garden between 20th and 31st Streets (including Spring Garden Street tunnel) 
  • Kelly Drive from 23rd Street to Fairmount 
  • Martin Luther King Drive from Falls Bridge to the Parkway
  • Pennsylvania Avenue from Hamilton Street to Fairmount Avenue
  • Pennsylvania Avenue closed, from 2000 block of Pennsylvania Ave./Callowhill Street, west of Whole Food Lot
  • Park Towne Place from 22nd Street to 24th Street 
While the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and intersections adjacent to the festival perimeter will remain closed, including 21st and 22nd streets at the Parkway. Intersections beyond the immediate festival area are expected to be open to traffic after midnight. 
 
Monday, Sept. 3:
  • Entire event area (Eakins Oval and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) will be closed to vehicular traffic to facilitate breakdown of event equipment. 
  • Traffic patterns are expected to return to normal late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, in time for Tuesday morning rush hour between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. 

SEPTA and NJTransit will operate under normal weekend schedules. Festival ticket-holders and others planning to visit the parkway are urged to use public transportation to get in and out of Center City during the festival weekend, due to the road closures.

The Mayor's Office also says the city will provide a heavy police presence during the concert. Three Philadelphia Police beacons will be positioned outside the festival showing where officers are deployed to assist festival goers. The beacons will be on the northeast corner of 17th Street and the Parkway, the southeast corner of 18th and the Parkway and the western entrance to Logan Circle between 19th and 20th Streets. 

Access to the event is only available to festival ticket holders. Tickets for both days are still available. You can purchase them through Ticketmaster or Live Nation. Proceeds from the concert will benefit local United Way organizations.

For more information on the festival, visit the Made in America website.

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Posted Aug 20, 2012
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