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News covering policy and issues related to city and county governments in the Ozarks.

Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Will Require Road Closures, Traffic Delays

City of Springfield

A heads up to motorists:  getting through downtown Springfield could be tricky for a few days.  The City of Springfield says drivers in the area should expect road closures and traffic delays starting Thursday due to the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival.

According to city officials, barricades will be in place at several downtown intersections by Thursday afternoon.

A parade, which starts Friday at 4:30, will impact traffic from Kansas Expressway and College to downtown.

Schedule of Closures:

Phase 1 – Early Vendor Set-up 

1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 10 

·         Jefferson Avenue and Olive Street – east side

·         Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street – north and south sides

·         Jefferson Avenue and McDaniel Street
 

Phase 2 – Festival Footprint  

2 a.m., Friday, Aug. 11

·         Park Central North entrance at Olive Street

·         Olive Street east of Boonville Avenue

·         Jefferson Avenue west of Olive Street

·         Park Central West west of Campbell Avenue

·         Park Central West and Patton Avenue

·         Park Central East and Robberson Avenue

·         Park Central East west of Jefferson Avenue

·         Park Central South entrance at McDaniel Street

·         McDaniel Street east of South Avenue

·         McDaniel Street west of Jefferson Avenue

Phase 3 – Vendor Arrival and Set-up 

5 a.m., Friday, Aug. 11

·         Jefferson Avenue at Water Street

·         St. Louis Street at Benton Avenue

·         McDaniel Street at Benton Avenue

·         McDaniel Street at Kimbrough Avenue

·         St. Louis Street west of Kimbrough Avenue

Phase 4 – Vendor Final Set-up/Car Show Arrivals

11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 11

·         Kimbrough Avenue at Trafficway

·         Kimbrough Avenue at Walnut Street

·         St. Louis Street at Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center (Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Phase 5 – Parade Line-up

The following locations will be closed for the parade only and will be removed after the parade concludes at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11.

4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11

·         Kansas Expressway and College Street

·         College Street and Nettleton Avenue

·         College Street and Fort Avenue

·         College Street and New Avenue

·         College Street and Broadway Avenue

·         College Street and 9th Avenue

·         College Street and Missouri Avenue

·         College Street and 8th Avenue

·         College Street and Douglas Avenue

·         Grant Avenue and McDaniel Street

Phase 6 – Parade Start-up

The following locations will be closed for the parade only and will be removed after the parade concludes at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11.

6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11

·         College Street and Hayden Avenue

·         College Street and Main Avenue

·         College Street and Market Avenue

·         St. Louis Street and John Q. Hammons Parkway

·         St. Louis Street and McAllister Avenue

·         St. Louis Street and Hampton Avenue

·         St. Louis Street and Florence Avenue

·         St. Louis Street and National Avenue

·         National Avenue and Trafficway        

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, because of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, the Park Central Driver Examination Station in Springfield will be open Friday for written tests only.  The public is encouraged to use the driver examination stations in Nixa or Republic. The Park Central Driver Examination Station will resume normal testing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2017. 

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.