Downtown Detroit Streets Closed, People Mover Shut Down For Obama Visit
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Take note if you're headed to downtown Detroit on Wednesday: It may be a bit of a travel mess.
Detroit police say citizens can expect traffic congestion, long waits and delays, as several roads in the downtown area will be closed the afternoon of Jan. 20, with security measures in place for a visit by President Barack Obama to the North American International Auto Show.
Eastbound Larned from John C. Lodge to Washington will be shut down for the duration of Obama's visit, as well as the entrance ramp onto John C. Lodge from Congress. Any other closures will be intermittent.
"The Detroit Police Department encourages the community to remain patient and consider an alternate route to and from their destination," reads a note on the DPD Facebook page.
Further complicating things, the Detroit People Mover will be for the most part shut down at 12:30 p.m. and service will not resume until after the president leaves (approximately 3:30 p.m.).
Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the Renaissance, Millender Center, Financial District, Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Center stations will be closed, and shuttle service will be made available to help people get where they need to go in the central business district,
The remaining eight stations will be serviced by one People Mover train operating between Fort/Cass around to Bricktown station and back. The map, below, has been provided to illustrate the temporary routes.
[Get more detailed People Mover information HERE].
People headed to the auto show should expect a longer-than-normal delay. Tipsters talking to WWJ Newsradio 950 sayh they've been standing in line for 30 to 40 minutes to get into Cobo Center.
Security is tight for the presidential visit, and it's Education Day at the show — so there are hundreds of kids at Cobo. The president is expected to tour a part of the show floor this afternoon. Some areas of the show will be blocked off to the public.
Meantime, the area surrounding the building is expected to be crowded with protesters. Detroit teachers who are unhappy with school conditions and Gov. Rick Snyder's plan to reorganize the district called in sick and hope to bring their problems to the president's attention.
[For complete Auto Show information, check out our guide].