WHEELING, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Several streets and roads throughout the Wheeling area are scheduled to close or undergo temporary pattern adjustments Thursday evening in anticipation of the upcoming Fantasy in Lights Christmas Parade.
The Wheeling Police Department confirmed the upcoming changes Wednesday afternoon, indicating that certain areas will be affected to varying degrees by the holiday event.
The annual Fantasy in Lights Christmas Parade is scheduled to occur on Friday, November 18th, with traffic alterations to begin at 5:00pm the same day.
The Center Wheeling area has been indicated by the Wheeling Police Department as a “red zone, with roads in and around Centre Market set to close at 5:00pm.
Areas included in the shutdown include Market Street from 20th Street to 23rd Street, and only those involved in the parade and/or navigating floats will be permitted throughout the area upon closure.
The Downtown area has been designated by authorities as a “yellow zone,” with Main Street and Market Street from 10 Street to 20th Street scheduled to close promptly at 6:00pm.
Vehicles are instructed to be off the parade route by 6:00pm. 10th Street will remain open to traffic during the parade to maintain access to I-70 at the Wheeling Tunnel.
Finally, Chapline Street has been designated as a “green zone,” and will remain open to traffic throughout the evening of the event.
Parking meters throughout the parade area will be bagged and marked with closure information in various areas throughout the day of the event, with parking still permitted until 5:00pm.
Vehicles parked on the parade route after 5:00pm will be towed by authorities.
The Market Street Bridge will remain open to parade traffic only, and non-parade traffic, both in-vehicle and on-foot, will not be permitted. It has also been noted that spectators will not be permitted to view the parade on the structure.
Additionally, the Wheeling Police Department encourages the public to arrive early for the parade itself and to be mindful of the increase in pedestrian and traffic flow which will inevitably occur in the downtown area.
Officers with the department will be stationed at several intersections so as to be able to direct traffic on foot, on bike, and in patrol cars.
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for the City of Wheeling can be found here.