Donald Trump Comes To Philadelphia: Road Closures, Parking Restrictions, Protests Planned

President Donald Trump will be coming to Philadelphia Thursday, Jan. 26 to meet with congressional Republicans at the Loews hotel for the 2017 GOP retreat.

With Trump heading to the city, officials will be enacting traffic, parking and pedestrian restrictions to accommodate the president's visit.

The restrictions largely center around the hotel, where GOP leaders will be meeting from Wednesday through Friday.

According to Mayor Jim Kenney's office, several roads will be closed and the public should expect "rolling road closures" as politicians move about the city.

The following roads will be closed:

• 13th Street from Chestnut Street to Market Street
• Market Street from 11th Street to Juniper Street
• 12th Street from Chestnut to Arch Street

The mayor's office said the closures will begin at 8 a.m. and remain in place until at least 6 p.m.

Anyone who is driving on Thursday should also be aware of parking restrictions in the following areas:

• 13th Street from Chestnut to Market Streets
• Market Street from 11th Street to Juniper Street
• 12th Street from Chestnut to Arch Street

The Philadelphia Parking Authority and Philadelphia Police Department will be towing vehicles on those streets to the PPA impound lot at 2501 S. Weccacoe Ave. in South Philadelphia, the mayor's office said.

The parking restrictions will be in effect at 6 a.m. Thursday and will last until the roads are reopened Thursday evening.

Not only will vehicle traffic be restricted, pedestrian traffic will be limited in certain areas.

• 1100 and 1200 block of Market – both north and south sides
• 12th Street from Chestnut to Filbert Streets – both east and west sides
• 13th Street from Chestnut to Market Streets – both east and west sides

Pedestrians should avoid these areas beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday as the United States Secret Service will set up a secure perimeter.

The city also confirmed one "demonstration" has obtained a permit from the city.

Officials said the demonstration is set fro 11 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m. The city expects 3,000 people to participate in the demonstration. The demonstration will have participants marching from Thomas Paine Plaza to the Loews Hotel, one city official said.

While only one permit was issued, the city is planning for other demonstrations without permits to go on throughout the day.

As for demonstrations without permits, one is planning to surround the Loews hotel. Another protest will rally against Trump's approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Pennsylvania Chapter of Black Lives Matter and National Organization for Women Philly Chapter will be rallying against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, as well.

The city is encouraging residents to follow @PhiladelphiaGov or #PHLRoadClosures on Twitter and to sign up for ReadyPhiladelphia alerts to stay up to date on any road closures or delays that may occur as a result of Thursday's events.

As for the retreat, congressional Republicans are meeting from Wednesday to Friday at the Loews hotel to establish their plan for governing now that the GOP controls the House, Senate and the White House.

One main topic expected at the retreat is repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

It's unclear what Trump will discuss during his visit. Typically, the topics are not disclosed to the public.

Image via Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons