Moncton has announced how it plans to shuttle up to 100,000 people to and from Magnetic Hill for one of the biggest outdoor concerts to ever be held in Atlantic Canada.
Directing traffic flow for the U2 concert on July 30 won't be a small undertaking, but the Codiac Regional RCMP have devised a plan along with the City of Moncton and Codiac Transit to ensure things go smoothly.
The RCMP says it will close Front Mountain Road to general traffic, except for residents and their guests, starting at 10 a.m. on July 30.
Visitors will be able to enter between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. by identifying the address and homeowner they will be visiting. Visitors will not require a pass.
The road will be closed to all traffic after 1 p.m.
Officers will close off the Gorge Road starting at 11 p.m. to alleviate congestion after the concert.
The Gorge Road and Front Mountain Road will both re-open at 1 a.m. on July 31, or when the RCMP deem it safe to re-open.
Police are warning that any vehicles parked within the street closures will be allowed to exit only after pedestrian traffic has cleared.
There will be no parking permitted on the following roads on July 30:
- Front Mountain Road
- Gorge Road
- Ensley Drive (taxis excepted)
- Mountain Road from Front Mountain Road to Lyon's Country Store
Police warn motorists that the parking ban will be strictly enforced and any vehicles left unattended will be towed at the owners' expense. Police say vehicles not parked directly on the road, but that extend into a traffic lane, will also be towed, along with any vehicles police deem to be parked in areas that are unsafe to motorists or pedestrians.
The RCMP warn that traffic congestion will be at its worst after the U2 concert and are asking concertgoers to be patient as they're leaving the concert site. They also ask that motorists who park in private parking lots near the concert site wait until the pedestrians have cleared the area before they leave.
A section of Mountain Road will be closed to traffic in the evening to allow for buses to safely load people who are using the Park and Ride service. The closure will extend from Charles Lutes Road to Front Mountain Road.
Taxis will be permitted to pick up passengers on Ensley Drive and police are recommending that anyone who plans to be picked up after the concert walk to a less congested area of Mountain Road to wait for their drive.