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OSWEGO, NY – Harborfest officials are asking festivalgoers to plan ahead and choose their route now to make attending Harborfest activities as easy as possible.
With the Route 104 bridge under construction Harborfest organizers have working closely with city officials including the City of Oswego Traffic Department and Police Department in an effort to make traveling to and from Harborfest activities as convenient as possible.
“We have worked with city officials to help alleviate many of the travel concerns that visitors and residents may have regarding getting to and from the many activities and events that will be taking place during Harborfest,†said interim executive director of Harborfest, Laurel Braun. “We have established parking facilities at strategic points located just east and west of Oswego. A convenient, free shuttle system from Romney Field House, located west of downtown at SUNY Oswego, and the Oswego Speedway, located east of downtown, will effectively transport festival goers into the city and to the venues they wish to visit.â€ÂÂ
In addition, Harborfest’s popular trolley cars will be available for transportation throughout the city and on both sides of the river.
Trolley buttons will be available for $3 and are good all weekend, and for a nominal fee, a water taxi service will transport festivalgoers across the river via two ferries located at Patz Restaurant on the east side and Coleman’s restaurant on the west side.
The Utica Street bridge will be open as will the pedestrian walking bridge located just north of Utica Street.
“The police department has compiled a list of alternate routes with concise directions on how to get to our Park-n-Ride locations at SUNY Oswego and the Oswego Speedway. The directions are currently available on our website, www.oswegoharborfest.com. In addition, directions on returning to points east, south and west of Oswego are also listed on the site and will be available at both Park-n-Ride locations,†added Braun.
According to Police Chief Michael J. Dehm Jr., the department’s main objectives for Harborfest this year are to ensure the quickest possible response of their emergency service personnel and to ensure the best possible safety measures for the public during this event.
To assist in accomplishing these objectives, certain traffic changes, such as restricted parking on certain streets, will be in effect. The intent of the changes is to help facilitate improved response time for both fire and police vehicles.
As a special note of interest, Harborfest officials add that on the evening of the Entergy Fireworks Spectacular, July 26, the Utica Street bridge will be closed to traffic from about 9 p.m. to about midnight with access given only to emergency vehicles and pedestrian traffic.
This will assist in the safe travel of pedestrian traffic as well as enable a quicker response for emergency vehicles in crossing the Oswego River. No other vehicular traffic will be allowed to cross the bridge, during this time period.
In addition, for the safety of those attending Harborfest, the Rail Trail Bridge across the river and the tunnel will be closed at dark each evening during the festival.
Both Harborfest officials and the police department are stressing the importance of planning your route ahead of time so that you will be able see the events and activities that wish.
“With proper planning and the correct utilization of the transportation services that will be available there should no reason for anyone to miss out on the great entertainment and activities that have made Harborfest one of the northeast’s most popular festivals,†said Braun.
“We have been working very closely with New York State Department of Transportation, The Oswego Fire Department, and Harborfest officials to make this year’s celebration a safe and enjoyable event for all,†added Chief Dehm. “Although some of the changes may be a bit of an inconvenience for the short duration that they are in effect, I assure you that each change has been well thought out and is being made in the interest of public safety. We are suggesting that citizens chose wisely where they wish to celebrate Harborfest and watch the fireworks and pass this information on to any of their friends and / or relatives who may be planning on visiting them or who may be coming to Oswego to enjoy the Harborfest celebration.â€ÂÂ
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