Pair Of Traffic Advisories Issued In Westport For This Weekend

Information from the Westport Police Department:

WESTPORT, CT — Below are two traffic advisories issued by the Westport Police Department for events in town this weekend:

The Slice of Saugatuck Festival is scheduled to take place from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

Railroad Place will be closed to vehicular traffic from Riverside Avenue to Franklin Street during the hours of 12:00pm to 6:00pm to allow for set up and break down of vendors’ booths and exhibitions. The east side of Riverside Avenue from Charles Street to Bridge Street will be a temporary No Parking zone during the event. All other roads will remain open to vehicular traffic; however, motorists should expect heavy pedestrian traffic associated with the event in the areas surrounding the Saugatuck Railroad Station including lower Riverside Avenue and Saugatuck Avenue. Pedestrians are reminded to utilize the crosswalks when crossing the roadways.

The Saugatuck Railroad station lots, with the exception of Lot #2, will also be used to provide parking for the event. If traveling to the railroad station or destinations in the immediate vicinity, please drive carefully and be sure to allow extra time for any traffic delays resulting from this event.

On Sunday September 10, 2023, the CT United Ride will travel through nine area towns, including Westport, to pay tribute to the victims and first responders of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The event is Connecticut’s largest annual 9/11 tribute as well as the largest motorcycle ride in the state.

The motorcade will continue to use the route established last year which starts at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport at approximately 11:30 am and continues through Westport into Wilton, Redding, Bethel, Newtown, Monroe, Trumbull, and Fairfield; ending at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

The procession travels from Sherwood Island State Park onto the Sherwood Island Connector where the riders will then take Interstate 95 southbound from Exit 18 to Exit 17. The procession will then travel north up Saugatuck Avenue (Route 136) from Exit 17, continue north on to Riverside Avenue (Route 33) to Wilton Road, and across the Wilton town line. The route is closed and continuous, meaning that with the assistance of a police escort the participating motorcyclists drive through traffic lights and do not stop at stop signs.

Motorists should anticipate extended traffic delays along the procession’s route which could potentially last 45 minutes or longer. Although delays are to be expected please be mindful of those we lost over 20 years ago, as well as their families who are with us today, as it certainly is a day for remembrance and reflection.

It is recommended that wherever possible alternate routes should be sought to avoid these areas as they will be rendered completely impassable until the entire procession clears.