Salem Announces October Road Closures, Parking Restrictions

SALEM, MA — It's no secret that Halloween is one of the busiest times of the year in Salem. People across the state will flock to the 'Witch City' for various celebrations and events.

While October can be the most exciting times of the year in Salem, traveling and parking within city limits can be a herculean task. Road closures are currently planned downtown on Oct. 31 (a Monday) starting no later than 4 p.m., and there is likely to be closures on Friday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 30. There may also be periodic weekend closures of Essex Street east-bound at Washington Street, with traffic on Essex Street being detoured via Barton Square.

Essex Treet from Hawthorne Boulevard to New Liberty Street will be closed to all through traffic with limited exception for all weekends in October. According to a city announcement, access to the Museum Place Garage will only be available via Brown Street onto New Liberty Street. Businesses and residents of the street will be allowed limited access to receive deliveries or access rear parking lots.

No on-street parking on this portion of Essex Street will be permitted during October weekends. A Salem Police officer will be assigned to the area from approximately 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to assist residents and businesses with permitted vehicles entering and exiting the street, according to a city announcement.

You can follow the Salem Police Department on twitter for real-time information on road closures. You do not need a twitter account to view the feed. You can also follow real-time road closures through the city's @GetThruOctober feed.

Tweets by GetThruOctober

Here's a list of planned road closures, courtesy of the City of Salem.

• Oct. 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29 & 30: There will be no on-street parking on Essex St from Hawthorne Blvd to New Liberty St from 6am to 10pm. This section of Essex St will also be closed to through traffic from 9am to 10pm. Access to Museum Place garage will be via Brown St only.
• Oct. 1: Cherubs 5K Fun Run starts at 9am at Forest River Park. No road closures are planned, however anticipate traffic delays along the following roadways through 10:30am: West Ave, Loring Ave, Broadway, Canal St, Mill St, Lafayette St, and Clifton Ave.

• Oct. 4: The Le Boreal cruise ship arrives at the Footprint dock. The Salem Wharf parking lot on Blaney St will be closed during the ship’s one-day visit.

• Oct. 6: Haunted Happenings Parade starts at 6:30pm at Shetland Office Park on Congress St. Anticipate traffic delays on Rte 114 and Rte 1A. Rte 1A from Derby St to Brown St will be closed to traffic from 6pm to 9pm. Other road closures are Congress St, Washington St, Essex St from Washington St to Union St, Central St, Front St, and Washington Sq W, N, and S. There will be no parking tow zones along the entire parade route.

• Oct. 9: Witch Ride Motorcycle Ride. Rte 114 and Rte 1A will be impacted, but not closed to traffic, from Marblehead to New Derby St. Rte 1A, including Derby St, will be closed to traffic between Lafayette St and Congress St. Congress St will also be closed to traffic. Anticipate road closures and traffic delays from noon to 3pm. There will be a no parking tow zone on Derby St between Lafayette and Congress St from 11am to 3pm.

• Oct. 15: Salem YMCA Witch City 5K road race starts at 9am at the Salem Willows. No road closures are planned, however anticipate traffic delays along the following roadways: Memorial Dr, Essex St, Rte 1A, Rte 114 including Hawthorne Blvd, Derby St, and Fort Ave, ending at Restaurant Row.

• Oct. 18: The M/V Victory cruise ship arrives at the Footprint dock. The Salem Wharf parking lot on Blaney St will be closed during the ship’s one-day visit.

• Oct. 29: Devil’s Chase road race starts at 8am at the Salem Willows soccer field on Fort Ave. No road closures are planned, however expect traffic delays until 10:30am on the following roadways: Fort Ave, Derby St, Szetela Ln, Webb St, Andrews St, Washington Sq, Essex St, Charter St, Derby St, Winter Island Rd, Columbus Ave, Restaurant Row, and Memorial Dr. Several no parking tow zones will be posted on Memorial Dr, Victory Rd, and Larkin Ln.
• Oct. 30: The Seabourn Quest cruise ship arrives at the Footprint dock. The Salem Wharf parking lot on Blaney St will be closed during the ship’s one-day visit.
• Oct. 31: Halloween events will include multiple road closures and heavy traffic delays for the entire day and night. Expect major traffic delays on Rte 114 and Rte 1A. Downtown streets will close to all traffic no later than 4pm. Road closures include: Essex St at Crombie St and Barton Sq to Union St, Washington St from New Derby St to Bridge St, Federal St from St. Peter’s St to North St, Washington Sq N and W from Essex St to Brown St, Hawthorne Blvd, Derby St, Rte 1A, Congress St near Pickering Wharf, Charter St, Central St, Front St, and Lafayette St from New Derby St to Front St. Bridge St at the Bypass Rd will also close to all traffic between the westerly overpass ramps the Bypass Rd from9:30pm to 11:30pm for the closing fireworks.

Information above is subject to change. Check back with Patch for all of your October news in Salem

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