A weekend (and beyond) of traffic

Driving in and around downtown is going to get harder to do in the next few days. The Times' Jesus Sanchez reports on closure related to Fiesta Broadway. Also: Westwood will endure traffic related to the Times' Festival of Books. And on Tuesday, the May 1 protests could cause even more gridlock around the city:

The California Highway Patrol could also shut freeway onramps and offramps to control congestion. "It is impossible to predict either the actual participation level or the locations where participants will choose to join the protest or demonstration," the department said in a statement. "Since detour routes may be complex and congestion may be severe, motorists are encouraged to avoid this entire area if possible."

Here is a map showing possible boycott-related traffic issues.

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Navigating through downtown Los Angeles, never an easy task, will get tougher in the next few days as two major events — Fiesta Broadway on Sunday and an immigrants rights march on Tuesday — will force the closure of numerous streets in the heart of the city.

FIESTA BROADWAY -- STREETS START CLOSING SATURDAY NIGHT

The closures will begin Friday night when Broadway between Temple and 1st Street and a single lane of 1st Street between Spring and Hill streets will shut down at 7 p.m. in preparation for Fiesta Broadway, a giant Cinco de Mayo festival expected to draw 500,000 people, according to event organizers.

The full impact of Fiesta Broadway will not be felt until Saturday night and Sunday, when Broadway will be shut down between Temple and 11th streets; Main Street from 9th and 11th streets; Hill Street between 1st and 6th streets; and Olive Street from 6th to 11th streets.

In addition, nearly all east-west streets from 1st to 11th streets will be closed in the immediate area, and the far west lane along Spring Street between 1st and 9th streets will be closed for emergency access.

All streets are scheduled to be reopened by 5 a.m. on Monday.

DOWNTOWN ROADS CLOSED TUESDAY

Motorists will face more closures on Tuesday for the Great American Boycott, which could affect traffic across a wider swath of downtown than Fiesta Broadway, depending on the turnout.

Last year's marches surprised officials by drawing 250,000 people in a morning march and an estimated 400,000 participants in a late afternoon protest.

This year, estimates range from 15,000 to 150,000, according to the city's Department of Transportation. The closures, which will begin at 8 a.m. Monday and are expected to last through most of the day, could affect traffic on any street bounded by Cesar Chavez Avenue to the north, Alameda Street to the east, Washington Boulevard to the south and Flower Street to the west, transportation officials said.

The California Highway Patrol could also shut freeway onramps and offramps to control congestion.

"It is impossible to predict either the actual participation level or the locations where participants will choose to join the protest or demonstration," the department said in a statement. "Since detour routes may be complex and congestion may be severe, motorists are encouraged to avoid this entire area if possible."

The protest will not begin until 10 a.m., but marchers are expected to begin gathering about 8:30 a.m. at Broadway and Olympic Boulevard. The march will proceed north on Broadway to 1st Street and then head east to the City Hall south lawn, where the demonstrations and speeches will take place until about 3:30 p.m.

Fiesta Broadway Street Closures

http://www.hprala.org/announce.php

Comments

[calwatch]

Actually, if it's like last year, May 1 will probably be the best day of driving you will have all spring long. I was able to make it to work in half the time that I normally do, and the afternoon drive felt just like the week between Christmas and New Year's. Avoid Downtown and the protest zones and stick to the freeways and you will have a blast.