IDL Closures Will Impact Busy Weekend Downtown

With so much going on downtown, you may be wondering if it will affect traffic.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.dfest.com/site/dfest/section/1" target=_blank>Dfest</A>|<A href="http://bokcenter.com/events.asp?id=11&pid=161&task=display&pcatid=&seldate=7/1/2009" target=_blank>American Idol Tour at BOK Center</A>|<A href="http://tulsapac.com/index.asp" target=_blank>Wicked at PAC</A>|<A href="http://cityoftulsa.org/media/29549/dfestsiteparkingmap2009.pdf" target=_blank>Map</A>

Thursday, July 23rd 2009, 4:51 pm

By: News On 6

IDL Closures Will Impact Busy Weekend Downtown

By Craig Day, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A big weekend is on tap for downtown Tulsa from Dfest to Wicked to a big concert at the BOK Center, there is a lot going on. The events are expected to attract thousands of people to downtown. With so much going on downtown, plus with work on the IDL around Tulsa, you may be wondering if it will affect traffic.

In downtown Tulsa, crews are setting up for a big weekend. Dfest, an annual music festival in downtown Tulsa's Blue Dome District, features 160 artists. Last year, the event attracted 70,000 people to downtown.

Dfest isn't the only big event. The musical Wicked has several shows scheduled this weekend at the Tulsa PAC. Plus, the American Idol concert is Friday night at the BOK Center.

So, with such big events all scheduled for the same weekend, many people are wondering what the traffic will be like, especially with highway construction on the IDL, the loop around downtown.

The News On 6 asked Tulsa Police Special Events Coordinator Sgt. Skipper Bain what people can expect.

He says westbound at Cincinnati will be blocked because of the IDL work, but there are other options to get downtown.

"The main entrance is off Detroit coming downtown from Broken Arrow, 7th Street is still good and 1^st Street is still good," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Skipper Bain.

Bain says traffic shouldn't be much more than people coming to and from work downtown on a weekday. Parking is another concern. Bain says there is more than enough parking for the BOK Center show.

"The BOK is only anticipating 9,000, so there won't be a problem parking at the BOK," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Skipper Bain.

But, with Dfest and the PAC so close to each other, Dfest has added free shuttles back and forth to parking at TCC's Metro Campus at 9th and Boston. Trolleys will also shuttle people back and forth to Brookside every half hour.

"Everything is within a minute to a 10 minute walk, should be nice weather and shouldn't be a problem," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Skipper Bain.

Bain says there shouldn't be any hesitation in coming downtown this weekend, and coming a little early and a little planning ahead can make sure you don't miss out on the fun.

See the BOK Center, Dfest, and Wicked Parking Map with street closures.