If your Wednesday evening plans will take you in or out of Hartford, make note of what police are calling a “significant impact on traffic.”
Several events happening around the same time will bring a lot of congestion downtown.
Twenty-thousand-people are expected to descend on the capital city for the Tom Petty concert alone at the Xfinity Theatre. The venue’s parking lot opens at 4 p.m.
Then there’s game two of the Hartford Yard Goats against the Trenton Thunder. The Yard Goats dropped the first game 8-1 Tuesday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
The Greater Hartford NAACP March for Justice will take place at 5 p.m.
Marchers intend to leave the Legislative Office Building and walk down the middle of both Capitol Avenue and Main Street to the skate park.
Those who work and live in the area say ballgame and concert nights are always busy.
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“Like a hurricane. A tornado. Traffic backed up, the bus stuck, everything off schedule. You might get off at 7 (p.m.) when you’re supposed to be home at 6 (p.m.) It’s horrible,” said Elizabeth Tilman, of Hartford.
“It’s truly very busy,” added Lise Fentner, of Rocky Hill. “Traffic is the pits in Hartford.”
Wednesday night will be particularly jam-packed with a concert, baseball game and a peaceful protest planned right in the heart of the city.
“I sure don’t want to be caught up in it. That’s going to be terrible,” Tilman said.
Hartford police officers will be set up in the most congested areas, but they need the public’s help.
“We want people to plan ahead and leave early. You know this is coming,” said Deputy Chief Brian Foley, of the Hartford Police Department.
Police advise those who work or have other plans in the capital city to leave extra time to get to their destinations.
“You’re looking at between 5:15 (p.m.) and 6:15 (p.m.) we expect to be the greatest impact. If you can get out under that, that’s fantastic,” Foley said.
The Hartford police department’s best advice is if you’re coming into the city for one of these events. get here early. If you’re trying to exit, leave early. Otherwise, Foley said to stay north of the city to avoid the worst traffic.
