DRAFT DODGING: Are You Ready for Some Football?

Philadelphia Braces for Traffic Troubles Due to NFL Draft

PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 10, 2017) – The sports world is set to converge on Philadelphia when the 2017 NFL Draft comes to the City of Brotherly Love later this month.  The three-day festival of activities and events runs from April 27 to 29, though area commuters and tourists are already feeling the effects of traffic troubles.  A multi-phase road closure plan begins today, April 10, and will continue through April 25.  Closures and restrictions are expected to remain until May 7.

“Philadelphia is always ready for some football, though many may not be ready for the road closures and restrictions that will make travel in and around the city difficult in the weeks ahead,” said Jana L. Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.  “AAA is urging motorists and tourists to plan accordingly.  Expect delays, use alternate routes, and allow plenty of extra time when traveling in the vicinity of the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.”

Philadelphia has the following resources available for reference:

• NFL Draft Traffic Plan Map.

• NFL Draft Road Closures and Restrictions

NFL Draft Road Closures and Restrictions – MULTI-PHASE Plan

Phase 1:

Start: 4/10/17 – 12:01am

End: 5/7/17 – 11:59pm

• Spring Garden Street westbound will close at Pennsylvania Avenue.

• The westbound center roadway of Benjamin Franklin Parkway will maintain two lanes from 20th Street to Eakins Oval. The left lane of Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from East Eakins Oval to Spring Garden St. and continue to southbound Kelly Drive, where it will open up to three travel lanes.

• The right two lanes of Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum steps will be closed for the building of the theatre.

• Southbound Kelly Drive will have a lane drop between 25th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Phase 2:

Start: 4/19/17 – 12:01am

End: 5/2/17 – 11:59pm

• Inner lanes (inbound and outbound) of Benjamin Franklin Parkway closed from Eakins Oval to 20th Street.

Phase 3:

Start: 4/24/17 – 7:00pm

End: 5/1/17 – 5:00am

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed from 20th Street to the Art Museum.

• Martin Luther King Drive will remain open to 24th Street.

• Eastbound Spring Garden Street will remain open from 31st Street to 24th Street.

• Kelly Drive will be closed at Fairmount Avenue with traffic detoured onto Fairmount Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Starting at 7:00pm on Monday, April 24th, due to the closure of the outer lanes on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, traffic headed inbound (to Center City) from Spring Garden Street Bridge or Martin Luther King Drive must exit Eakins Oval on the 24th Street ramp. Traffic headed inbound on Kelly Drive must exit Kelly Drive at Fairmount Avenue. Those wishing to access the rear of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the north side must exit onto Fairmount Avenue, turn right on Pennsylvania Avenue and proceed SB on 25th Street onto Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive.

Phase 4 – Full Extent of Road Closures:

Start: 4/25/17 – 12:01am

End: 5/1/17 – 5:00am

• 21st Street closed from Winter Street to Spring Garden Street
  Local access to Pennsylvania Avenue only (all traffic must turn left)

• 22nd Street closed from Race Street to Spring Garden Street
  Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)

• 23rd Street closed from Fairmount Avenue to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  Local access only

• 24th Street closed from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Park Towne Place
  Local access only

• Martin Luther King Drive closed at Sweet Briar Drive.
  Road opened daily during peak AM rush hour on 4/27 & 4/28 (5AM-10AM) for access to I-676 via 24th Street

• Kelly Drive closed from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Fairmount Avenue

• Spring Garden Street Bridge closed at 31st Street
  Road opened daily during peak AM rush hour on 4/27 & 4/28 (5AM-10AM) for access to I-676 via 24th Street
  Access to I-76 westbound will be maintained
  Local access to Art Museum will be maintained

• Spring Garden Street closed from 22nd Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  Local access after peak AM rush hour

• Pennsylvania Avenue closed from Hamilton Street to Fairmount Avenue
  Local access after peak AM rush hour

• Pennsylvania Avenue/Callowhill Street closed from 20th Street to 21st Street
  Local access to Barnes Foundation driveway (westbound) only
  Eastbound open from 21st Street

• Park Towne Place closed from 22nd Street to 24th Street
  Local access only (residents)

• I-676 westbound 22nd Street off-ramp closed

The following streets will be designated “local access only” west of 22nd Street:

Wallace Street

Mt. Vernon Street

Green Street

Judson Street

Brandywine Street

No Parking

– No parking on 2400 Pennsylvania Avenue (south side angle parking only) from 4/5 to 5/8
– Pennsylvania Avenue between 22nd Street & Fairmount Avenue (south side of street only)
– Winter Street between 20th & 22nd Streets (both sides of street)
– 20th Street between Vine & Callowhill Streets (east side of street only)
– 21st Street between Benjamin Franklin Parkway & Race Street (both sides of street)
– 22nd Street between Winter & Spring Garden Streets (both sides of street)
– Park Towne Place between 22nd & 24th Streets (both sides of street)

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Mailing Address:
7777 Brewster Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19159

AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and more than three million members in Pennsylvania.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.AAA.com.