Newport residents and visitors should prepare for significant traffic disruptions this weekend as the city hosts three major events over three consecutive days, according to press releases issued Wednesday by the Newport Police Department.
The busy weekend kicks off Saturday, October 11, with the Broadway Street Fair, which will bring no-parking restrictions to multiple downtown streets starting at 7:00 a.m. Road closures along Broadway and surrounding areas will take effect at 8:30 a.m. and remain in place until 7:00 p.m.
Lt. Joseph C. Carroll, the department’s public information officer, advised that southbound Broadway traffic will be detoured onto Equality Park West and Wheatland Boulevard, while northbound traffic on Spring Street will be rerouted onto Bull Street. Commercial vehicles and buses are encouraged to use Memorial Boulevard and America’s Cup Avenue to bypass the downtown area.
On Sunday, October 12, runners participating in the Amica Newport Marathon will prompt the closure of Memorial Boulevard Eastbound from Eustis Avenue to the town line between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. The westbound lane will experience random temporary closures from Easton’s Beach to Thames Street from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to allow runners to cross safely.
The weekend concludes Monday, October 13, with the Italian Heritage Parade beginning at 11:30 a.m. The parade route starts at St. Joseph’s Church on Broadway, travels through Washington Square, and continues on Thames Street to Memorial Boulevard West, ending at the Columbus Statue.
Parking restrictions for the parade begin at 8:00 a.m. on Equality Park Place, Memorial Boulevard between Bellevue Avenue and Freebody Street, and Freebody Street to Merton Road. Starting at 10:00 a.m., Broadway from Equality Park through Washington Square and Memorial Boulevard Eastbound from Bellevue Avenue to Chapel Street will close for approximately 30 minutes around noon.
Public parking for the street fair will be available at the Gateway Center, 23 America’s Cup Avenue, Mary Street parking lot, and Touro Street parking lot.
Residents are advised to plan alternate routes and allow extra travel time throughout the weekend.
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