When, Where To See Blue Angels In Annapolis, Plus Road Closings

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Road and bridge closures and boating restrictions on local waterways are under way for events tied to graduation at the U.S. Naval Academy, including aerial performances by the Blue Angels and the commencement address by President Donald Trump on Friday, May 25.

The Navy's elite flight demonstration squadron will perform above the Severn River on Wednesday, May 23, as part of the Naval Academy's Commissioning Week. The event is free and open to the public. Viewing areas for the show will include Ingram Field, portions of Farragut Field and Hospital Point on the Naval Academy grounds. Visitors may experience delays due to an increased number of visitors on the Yard.

The Blue Angels will fly on Wednesday, May 23, between 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. When the Blue Angels are flying, the Route 450/Naval Academy Bridge over the Severn River will be closed to all traffic, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian. For information about the closures and delays expected during Navy Commissioning week visit https://bit.ly/2kcFeOb.

In response to a tweet from the Naval Academy Wednesday, the flight squad said it's looking forward to today's show.

On Tuesday afternoon the Blue Angels Facebook page posted: "Good afternoon, #Naptown! The weather cooperated and we were able to squeeze in a practice today. We do it for real tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. for the United States Naval Academy Air Show! Where's the best seat in town?"

Friday traffic will be heavy with the Naval Academy graduation ceremony drawing thousands of visitors throughout the day. In additionally, MDOT SHA expects increased holiday/eastbound traffic beginning Thursday and throughout the day Friday. Highway officials anticipate traffic delays late Sunday and Monday at the end of the long Memorial Day holiday weekend. Crews will patrol US 50 and other SHA-maintained roads to assist with disabled vehicles, highway debris removal, and crashes.

Drivers are urged to use www.md511.org and plan extra commuting time and consider alternate routes such as MD 2 (Governor Ritchie Highway) to US 50 if traveling toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

SEE ALSO: Maryland Patch Photo Contest: Submit Your Best Pics

The Annapolis Call Center is open to take non-emergency calls in reference to Blue Angels Practice on Tuesday. The Call Center will be open until 5 p.m. and can be reached at (410) 260-2211. For emergencies, residents should call 911, authorities say.

Traffic Changes/Delays

According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the flights will affect traffic along the following routes: Taylor Avenue, Rowe Boulevard, Route 450 northbound and southbound in the area of the Naval Academy Bridge, Route 648, Greenbury Point Road and St. Margarets Road.

Some streets in these areas will be closed during the event, including the closing of the U.S. Naval Academy Bridge. Use caution as increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic is anticipated. Drivers traveling these routes should expect delays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Bridge Closure

The Route 450/Naval Academy Bridge over the Severn River will be closed to all traffic, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian Tuesday between 10:45 a.m. and 4 p.m., says the Annapolis Police Department. The bridge closures are expected to cause traffic congestion in and around Annapolis. Roads affected include Maryland Route 450, U.S. Route 50, Roscoe Rowe Boulevard, King George Street, Annapolis Street, and Taylor Avenue.

Drivers should use MD 70 (Rowe Boulevard) to enter or exit Annapolis and allow extra travel time, says the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration.

Additionally, crews will block the right lane on eastbound US 50 prior to MD 450 (West Street) on Tuesday and Wednesday mid-afternoon to allow traffic to depart Annapolis after the air shows. About 140,000 drivers will be travelling US 50 between I-97 and the Severn River Bridge daily. On April 30, MDOT SHA opened a fourth lane on eastbound US 50 on the Severn River Bridge, which will help ease congestion.

The U.S. Coast Guard will be restricting boat traffic on the Severn River on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 22 and 23. The FAA also restricts flights in the area of the demonstration, this includes drones. For more information on these restrictions visit https://bit.ly/2kcFeOb.

Where To Park

Visit www.annapolisparking.com to locate the city's public parking garages. You can even make an online reservation in advance. Garages are located on West Street and at Park Place, as well as the popular Hillman garage off Main Street. There are shuttles that help transport people from garages.

On Friday, May 25, beginning at 6:30 a.m., the public also can park for free at the Calvert Street garage (at the corner of Bladen and Calvert Streets). This garage is typically restricted during weekday business hours to those with parking pass access only. The gates will be up all day.

Boating Precautions

Tens of thousands of people will enjoy the Blue Angel demonstrations on Tuesday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 23, by boat. City officials urge boaters to have a float plan that includes a map or understanding of the boating safety zones that are in place during the shows.

Always follow all maritime laws, especially that law that requires a personal floatation device for each person on board and all children on aboard under the age of 13 must wear their properly fitting PFD at all times. All persons aboard boats are strongly encouraged to wear a PFD at all times. Also, bow riding is illegal in Maryland.

On Friday, May 25, there will be possible closures to boating traffic on the Severn River and College Creek from arrival through departure of President Trump in Annapolis.

Presidential Security Measures

Increased security will be on hand for Friday’s commencement ceremony at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with President Trump on hand. Residents who see anything suspicious are asked to call 911.

Parking at Navy Stadium begins at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, May 25. Entry for ticketed guests to the event begins at 7 a.m.

The brigade of midshipmen will leave the yard at 6:45 a.m. and march through town via Gate 8, MD 450, Taylor Avenue, and ar expected to cross over Rowe Boulevard at about 7:25 a.m. There will be road closures along this route as the brigade makes its way to the stadium.

Drone Restrictions

Do not fly a drone anywhere near downtown Annapolis or the Academy or stadium during the Blue Angels events on May 22 or May 23 or commencement event on Friday, May 25. The Federal Aviation Administration will have air restrictions in place.

For more information about drone usage, call 1-800-WX-BRIEF for additional information about flights and drone usage during restrictions.

Here's the schedule for Commissioning Week:

Monday, May 21- MIDSHIPMEN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS CEREMONY - USNA in Memorial Hall

• Midshipmen will be honored for their volunteerism within the community. Numerous local community organization leaders will be represented. Midshipmen volunteer over 26,000 hours to the community annually.

Monday, May 21 – HERNDON MONUMENT CLIMB - USNA in front of Chapel

• Members of the fourth class (freshmen or "plebes") will climb the 21-foot obelisk in order to retrieve a white plebe "dixie cup" hat on top of the monument and replace it with an upperclassman's hat.

Tuesday, May 22 - BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE- Over the Severn River

• The Blue Angels will rehearse their performance for the following day.

Wednesday, May 23 - BLUE ANGELS PERFORMANCE- Over the Severn River

• The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron's Blue Angels will perform a variety of high-speed, aerobatic precision-maneuvers in an approximate two-hour performance over the Severn River. Best viewing areas are from Ingram Field (narration can be heard from this area), portions of Farragut Field and Hospital Point on Naval Academy grounds. Spectators from other viewing areas can tune-in to WNAV-AM (on 1430 AM and 99.9 FM) to hear the broadcast of the narration.

Thursday, May 24 - Color Parade USNA on Worden Field

• The highlight of the Color Parade is the formal presentation of the color company pennant by the superintendent, the company commander and the "color honoree," to the newly designated spring color company. Each semester, the color company is designated by virtue of its excellence in academics, athletics and professional accomplishments throughout the semester. The color company competition began in 1867.

Friday, May 25 – Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony at Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC (By invitation only) Speaker: President Donald Trump

• The commissioning and graduation ceremony is the culmination of the four-year education and training of the men and women of the Class of 2018. Each graduate receives a Bachelor of Science degree and takes the oath of office as they are each commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy or as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

For more information about the Naval Academy, visit www.usna.edu.
For more information about the Blue Angels, visit www.blueangels.navy.mil.

Photo: Selfie by Lt. Commander Nate Barton of the Navy's Blue Angels