Prepare for Packed Venues and Closed Highways in Atlanta for Valentine's Weekend
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- Category: Atlanta
- Published on Friday, 15 February 2013 21:23
- Written by The Atlanta Daily World
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- Post 15 February 2013
- By Atlanta Daily World
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The Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Philips Arena will be host to approximately 200,000 visitors for several major events this Valentine's Day Weekend.
As if the arrival of President Obama and couples reining the city for Valentine's Day did not bring enough traffic woes, Atlanta has another thing coming.
The UniverSoul Circus started its annual trip to the city Thursday, stationing at the Green Lot at Turner Field, until March 3.
The World Congress Center will be home to two events this weekend with the Cheersport Nationals Cheerleading Competition beginning Friday through Sunday and the four-day Bronner Brothers International Hair Show beginning Saturday.
Also next door Saturday night, "Monster Jam," a monster truck-racing event will be held at the Georgia Dome with a huge crowd expected there and another at the neighboring Philips Arena with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus being held from Feb. 15 – 18.
"Both pedestrian and vehicular traffic is expected to be extremely heavy around these events," Atlanta Police Sgt. Greg Lyon told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We're urging event-goers and other visitors to the downtown area to consider taking MARTA or carpooling."
For those people who think they are safe staying outside the city, they may want to think again.
Several construction-related interstate closures are expected within the suburbs, weather permitting.
Three lanes of I-285 Eastbound to I-75 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday. In DeKalb County, two right lanes of I-20 Eastbound will be closed from Columbia Drive to Wesley Chapel from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday as well with two lanes of I-285 near Glenwood Road being closed all weekend.
