SPECIAL EVENTS WILL AFFECT TRAFFIC SATURDAY

Three events that will attract people to downtown Charleston tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 15) will have an impact on traffic from early in the morning through later at night.

The Capital City Classic (Run Row Ride triathlon) includes competitors running and biking on Kanawha Boulevard and kayaking in the Kanawha River between Magic Island and Daniel Boone Park.  In preparation for the running and racing on the Boulevard, that road will be closed between Ohio Avenue on the west side through Chesapeake Avenue beyond the State Capitol at 7 am.  The Boulevard from Chesapeake Avenue to Daniel Boone Park will be restricted to one lane of traffic westbound with the other lane coned off for the running and bicycling legs of the competition.  The closure and restriction will continue until the race is complete, perhaps around 1 pm.

Because American Idol will be attracting a few thousand hopefuls to audition at the Charleston Civic Center tomorrow, the 200 block of Clendenin Street between the Civic Center and Charleston Town Center will be closed from 8 am until mid-afternoon.

Then tomorrow evening at 5 o’clock, the Funeral Parade kicks off Downtown StreetFest, which is the final street party of the season and moves to the unit block of Capitol Street from 5 to 9 pm.  The unit block of Capitol Street will be closed at 3 o’clock in preparation for StreetFest.  Traffic on Kanawha Boulevard will be restricted to one westbound lane approaching Capitol Street as well.  The parade will stage on the 300 block Capitol Street, so it will be closed between Washington and Lee streets at 4 pm.  When the parade heads south on Capitol Street at 5 o’clock, traffic will be stopped at the intersections with Lee, Qaurrier and Virginia streets.