OSWEGO, NY – The preparations for this year’s Harborfest Celebration, which begins July 22 and concludes July 25, are well under way.
The Oswego City Police Department’s main objectives for Harborfest this, and every, year are to ensure the quickest possible response of our emergency service personnel and to provide 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, and the closing of both the Bridge Street Bridge and the Utica Street Bridge to vehicular traffic immediately following the Saturday night fireworks display will be in effect.
The intent of the changes is to help facilitate improved response time for both fire and police vehicles.
The Bridge Street Bridge and the Utica Street Bridge will be closed on Saturday, July 24, (night of
fireworks) 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.
According to Police Chief Michael J. Dehm Jr., “As always, we are projecting an increase in both pedestrian and vehicular traffic during Harborfest. Two years ago due to the construction of the Bridge Street Bridge, we felt compelled to close the Utica Street Bridge after the Harborfest Fireworks display for safety concerns. Due to the closure of both bridges, and thanks to the cooperation of fest-goers, traffic congestion was significantly decreased. So much so, that city and Harborfest officials agreed to close the bridges last year following the fireworks to help eliminate some of the post-fireworks congestion as well as to increasing emergency response times and once again it worked. Due to the construction on the Utica Street Bridge this year and the success we have had in closing the bridges the past two years, we are going to do it again.â€
The Oswego City Police Department is suggesting that citizens chose wisely where they wish to celebrate Harborfest and watch the fireworks.
Please pass this information on to any of your friends and / or relatives who may be planning on visiting your residence or who may be coming to Oswego to enjoy the Harborfest celebration during the above time periods.
A listing of the streets affected by the parking restrictions is as follows (some of which may already be in place):
Temporary No Parking signs to go up July 21.
WEST SIDE OF CITY OF OSWEGO
Streets that run North / South
West First Street between West Seneca Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Second Street between West Bridge Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Third Street between West Bridge Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Fourth Street between West Seneca Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Fifth Street between West Utica Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Sixth Street between West Bridge Street and West Van Buren Street (No Parking East side)
West Seventh Street between West Bridge Street and West Schuyler Street (No Parking East side)
Montcalm Street between West Schuyler Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Eighth Street between West Cayuga Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
West Eighth Street between West Bridge Street and West Cayuga Street (No Parking West side)
Ontario Street between West Cayuga Street and Lake Street (No Parking East side)
Liberty Street between West Bridge Street and the North End (No Parking East side)
Streets that run East / West
West Cayuga Street between West First Street and West Bridge Street (No Parking North side)
West Seneca Street between West First Street and West Bridge Street (No Parking South side)
West Schuyler Street between West First Street and Liberty Street (No Parking North side)
West Schuyler Street between Liberty Street and John Street (No Parking either side)
West Schuyler Street between John Street and First Ave. (No Parking North side)
West Van Buren Street between West Second Street and Liberty Street (No Parking South side)
Bronson Street between Montcalm and Liberty Street (No Parking North side)
EAST SIDE OF CITY OF OSWEGO
East Fourth Street between East Schuyler Street and East Bridge Street (No Parking West side)
(Friday Only)
East Fourth Street between East Schuyler Street and East Bridge Street (No Parking either side)
“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,†Chief Dehm explained.
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