Downtown Traffic Is Going to be a Nightmare: Where to Park, Routes to Avoid

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Getting around Detroit is going to be ridiculously difficult Saturday afternoon and evening.

The Tigers are playing at Comerica Park, Kenny Chesney is performing at Ford Field and Idina Menzel is doing a show at Fox Theater. Combined, the events are expected to bring more than 85,000 people to downtown Detroit, WXYZ-TV said.

Add some freeway closures to the mix for a perfect traffic storm.

Getting Downtown

Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, eastbound and westbound lanes of I-94 close from M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to I-75 close, The Detroit News reports.

The construction project also means the closure of ramps from northbound and southbound Lodge to both eastbound and westbound I-94. Warren and W. Grand Boulevard are suggested alternate routes, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The northbound lanes of I-75 between Southfield Road and Outer Drive will remain closed until Monday as crews clean up from a fatal tanker explosion Thursday morning.

MDOT said motorists who are headed to Detroit this weekend should use I-94 from the Southfield Freeway, or take Ford Street at Outer Driver. Ford Street runs parallel to I-75.

Be aware there’s roadwork on I-94. Two left lanes will be closed from Oakwood to the Lodge Freeway from 7 a.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday.

For more area construction projects, check the MDOT interactive map. For real-time traffic updates, follow MDOT on Twitter @MichiganDOT.

Where to Park (and Not to Park) Once You’re There

All spots in the Olympia Development parking structures east of Woodward Avenue are reserved for those going to the Tigers game, which starts at 7:08 p.m. Motorists must show a ticket, parking pass, or have tickets at will-call to prk in that lot. Olympia lots west of Woodward are available on a first-come, first served basis to guests at Comerica and Ford Field.

Shuttles will run from Corktown and downtown restaurants and bars to the venues. The People Mover will also be running.

Gates open for Chesney’s Ford Field performance at 3:30 p.m., and the show starts at 4:45 p.m.

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Photo via Flickr