DENVER—The city of Denver on Wednesday announced road closures for the first three days of the Democratic National Convention that it said would keep most of downtown open during morning rush hour.
The convention will be held Aug. 25-28, with the first three days being held at the Pepsi Center.
Restrictions for the last day of the convention, when Barack Obama plans to accept his nomination for president at Invesco Field at Mile High, will be announced by early August, city officials said.
The city said Wednesday that beginning at 9 a.m. Aug. 25, Speer Boulevard will be closed from Interstate 25 to Lawrence Street through Aug. 27, but two lanes in each direction will be open during the morning rush from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Midday closures are planned Aug. 25-27 to accommodate protesters on one block of Bannock Street between 14th and Colfax avenues, westbound lanes of Colfax from Bannock to Speer, and southbound lanes of Speer from Colfax to Larimer Street.
Auraria Parkway from I-25 to Speer Boulevard will be closed from 12 a.m. Aug. 23 through Aug. 27.
Residents and businesses closest to the Pepsi Center will receive personal credentials from the Secret Service to come and go by foot, the city said.
Other residents and businesses near the Pepsi Center will receive placards so their vehicles can access their regular parking spots. Some vehicles may be subject to screenings.
The light rail will not make stops at the Pepsi Center or Denver Union Station, but the normal bus service is planned, with routes adjusted to accommodate street closures.
The city said it is working with online map providers like MapQuest and Google to update their maps of downtown Denver during the convention.
“We have said from the beginning that—while there will be some additional screening procedures and security measures in some locations—all downtown residents will be able to access their homes and parking garages, and downtown businesses will be able to remain open with access to employees and customers,” Mayor John Hickenlooper said.
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