September 11th, 2024 by WCBC Radio
The Annual Heritage Days Festival will be held this weekend starting Saturday, September 14th, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 15th, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Due to the large number of citizens attending the event throughout the weekend, some changes to the traffic pattern will be implemented to ensure the safety of the citizens and at the same time provide motorists with access around the event to prevent any back-ups or delays. A change in the traffic routes listed below around the downtown area will be in effect one hour prior to the start of the festival and will last until the conclusion of the event each day.
Motorists traveling south on Mechanic Street will be diverted onto Frederick Street where they can access Queen City Drive to by-pass the closed portion of Mechanic Street.
Motorists traveling north on Mechanic Street will be detoured onto Harrison Street to Queen City Drive to by-pass the closed portion of Mechanic Street. Motorists attempting to reach the west side of the city or West Virginia can do so by using Interstate 68 West and exiting at the Beall Street exit to Greene Street.
Motorists traveling south on Bedford Street will be diverted at Mechanic Street back onto Frederick Street to Queen City Drive.
Motorists traveling north on Greene Street will be prohibited, as in the past, from making a turn from Greene Street onto either Washington or Cumberland Streets. These motorists will be diverted into a single lane on Greene Street prior to Baltimore Street and continue onto Mechanic Street at which time only a right turn will be permitted.
Tractor trailer traffic should avoid the downtown area, using Queen City Drive as an alternate route.
The Cumberland Police Department requests that motorists pay close attention when traveling in the downtown area over the weekend due to the changes in traffic patterns and increased pedestrian traffic.
Attendees at this year’s Heritage Days Festival will be able to utilize both the Frederick Street Parking Garage and Centre City Parking Garage. Vehicles are restricted from parking on the blue level in both garages, but all other spaces are available for use.
