(Media advisory from the St. Louis County Police Department reprinted with permission.)
Presidential Debate-related Traffic Restrictions FOR OCTOBER 8 Announced
To help ensure the security before, during and after the Presidential Debate at Washington University on October 8, traffic will be restricted or, in some limited cases, completely prohibited on streets near and within the Washington University HILLTOP campus throughout the day of the event.
Although some degree of inconvenience will be experienced, the Traffic Management Plan prepared for the debate is a phased approach that attempts to minimize driver/resident frustration. The first phase will begin shortly after 9 a.m. (Please note that this plan is subject to alteration, contingent on possible changes in President Bush’s and Sen. Kerry’s movements.)
9 a.m.
- Big Bend will be closed from Forsyth to Forest Park Parkway.
- Big Bend from Delmar to Forest Park Parkway will be limited to ‘local traffic only.’ Southbound traffic on Big Bend will be detoured at Kingsbury. Local residents will be circulated through side streets, while access to businesses located at Big Bend and Forest Park Parkway will be routed Kingsbury to Williams to Pershing.
- Westmoreland, Maryland and Lindell will all be closed at Big Bend. In addition, access to Westmoreland at Williams, Maryland at Williams and Lindell at Asbury will be limited to local residents and their guests.
11 a.m.
- Forest Park Parkway at Skinker will be closed to all west-bound traffic. Traffic exiting the Washington University campus may travel eastbound on Forest Park Parkway to Skinker.
- Forsyth will be closed at Skinker and Big Bend. Access on Forsyth will be limited to (A) campus traffic exiting the campus to the east (towards Skinker) and (B) campus or debate traffic moving west from Hoyt to Wallace or Olympian Way.
- All traffic entering the campus will be directed to Skinker at Brookings Drive.
- Eastbound traffic on Forsyth from Hanley will be permitted to travel to Big Bend and then southbound.
- Northbound traffic on Big Bend will be permitted to travel to Forsyth and then westbound.
Mid-Afternoon (Time to be determined)
- Big Bend will be closed from Wydown to Forsyth.
- Forsyth closes to all traffic at Asbury. Local traffic will be permitted on Forsyth between Asbury and Jackson.
Campus Internal Traffic Plan
(The following reflects the internal traffic plan for Washington University’s campus once Forsyth is closed.)
Access to the campus will be as follows:
- All vehicles entering the campus will enter at Skinker and Brookings Drive
- Traffic between Hoyt and Wallace on Forsyth will be limited to University traffic only
- No traffic will be permitted between Hoyt and Skinker on Forsyth
- Traffic may exit, but not enter, the campus at Hoyt and Forest Park Parkway
- Traffic may exit, but not enter, the campus at Throop and Forest Park Parkway
- Snow Way Drive between Throop and the Snow Way Garage will be limited to vehicles with Blue parking permits
- Snow Way Drive west of the Snow Way Garage will be closed to traffic
- All traffic accessing the SOUTH 40 residential area will access VIA WALLACE DRIVE off Wydown. (The Big Bend entrance will be closed all day on October 8. All traffic on the SOUTH 40 will be two-way traffic ON BOTH WALLACE AND SHEPLEY DRIVES.)
No parking will be permitted on the following streets:
- Forsyth from Skinker to Big Bend
- Brookings Drive westbound