Denver’s Cinco de Mayo celebration typically involves cruising along Federal Boulevard.
On Friday, the Denver Police Department announced a plan to keep drivers and pedestrians safe and traffic moving throughout the weekend.
The police plan involves three phases that will be rolled out as traffic jams increase on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Police will allow cars to cross Federal until congestion increases. Then east/west traffic only will be allowed to cross at Louisiana Avenue, Mississippi Avenue, Kentucky Avenue, Alameda Avenue and U.S. 6, according to a police news release.
- Phase One will allow traffic flow along Federal Blvd. Officers will be staffing stationary posts along Federal Blvd. Side streets will not be barricaded during this phase.
- Phase Two will be implemented as the number of celebrants/cruisers increases. Police personnel will utilize traffic barricades to restrict access to side streets along Federal Blvd. The objective will be to minimize the impact on residents who live along the Federal Blvd. corridor.
- Phase Three will be implemented if the traffic volume reaches levels that prevent normal traffic flow and become unsafe for residents, participants and service personnel. During Phase Three, a portion of the traffic will be diverted away from sections of Federal Blvd. until such time as the traffic volume becomes normalized. Various diversion routes have been selected and the volume of traffic will determine which location will be utilized.
Once barricades are in place to limit access to neighborhoods, residents who live in nearby must speak with an officer to receive access, the news release said.
Police also warned that officers will enforce all traffic, noise and curfew ordinances. Anyone younger than 18 cannot be out after midnight on Friday and Saturday and after 11 p.m. on Sunday, the news release said.
Police also reminded people celebrating Cinco de Mayo anywhere in town, including at the festival in Civic Center, to use designated drivers.
