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Take your typical Monday morning rush hour in north- Central Brevard County, with school buses and commuters at workplaces up in busy intersections.
Add approximately 40,000 people embarkation and disembarkation of five large cruise ships due to leave Port Canaveral on Monday.
then throw in crowded crowd of 100,000 to 500,000 spectators, most of them trying to maneuver as close as possible. possible to the beach and the Indian River Lagoon to watch NASA’s historic Artemis I launch to the moon soar skyward. it first planned uncrewed test flight in Artemis program.
“Count safety first. Watch out for pedestrians, because many of people will cross the roads on sole. And think about delays,” Brevard County Communications Director Don Walker said.
“If you’re going to get stuck in traffic for two or three hours you’re gonna want have water. You’re going to want eat with you. So think about what you need be prepared, in if you’re stuck in a long queue of traffic and you moving”, Walker said.
“Now it’s August. It will be hot,” he said.
Where to watch Artemis launch:8 Space Coast Breakfast Spots with great views of Artemis plus 16 post-launch options
Eat and Run:Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Cocoa restaurants plan ahead hours for Artemis Monday I run
When will Artemis I be released?
Artemis I’s two-hour launch window opens at 8:33 a.m. Monday. 322ft space launch system with It is planned that the unmanned Orion capsule debut launch from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center and landing on 42 days mission.
Walker said tourism and space officials estimate 100,000 to 500,000 visitors in the county. for launch. The officials will activate Brevard County Emergency Center in Rockledge at 4 am, that’s 2½. hours earlier than the typical two-hour activation preceding a rocket launch.
“We assume that you are going start saw an unusual number of cars on the road starts at 2 o’clock,” Walker said. of Monday morning.
“There will be a dead end in some areas. There will be full parking lots. There will be many of people out on beach, especially from the central part to the northern part of county,” he said.
“So just get ready for delays and leave early. The sooner you leave, the better,” he said.
When to expect traffic delays from Artemis I launch
According to the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization, the worst traffic congestion is expected from 5 to 10 am Monday. Agency shares key post-run traffic tips for this is “epic event”:
- No Cocoa Beach left turns will be allowed from State Road A1A northbound to State Road 520 westbound.
- All the lanes in Titusville on A. Max Brewer Bridge to close immediately after launch for about one hour, which allows for heavy foot traffic.
Once launched, police will direct Titusville motorists near the bridge to head north on Harrison Street or West on Sadovaya street. All viewers north of Harrison Street will be directed north to state road 46.
After Thursday morning meeting with law enforcement officers, FDOT announced that U-turns will be prohibited on State Road 528 and George King Boulevard in Port Canaveral, spokesman David Parks said.
Brevard Public Schools Communications Officials at EOC Will Deliver Traffic Updates parents As the morning progresses, said Russell Brun, county spokesman.
Changed bus routes:Brevard Public Schools are changing bus routes to avoid Artemis launches traffic binding
Massive SLS Rocket:NASA is moving forward for launch of massive rocket SLS for Artemis I mission to the moon
BPS will change bus routes as needed and issue district notifications parents via email, notifications and Bus Bulletin updates posted on on the county’s Facebook page.
The Cocoa Beach Police Department will monitor traffic signals and traffic in the area city.
“Inhabitants should plan accordingly and stay off roads, if possible to avoid get stuck in it’s a cluster,” Cocoa Beach City Hall officials posted on facebook last a week.
Port Canaveral getting ready for inflow of launch spectators to the Jetty park for Planned launch on Monday – plus Lockheed Martin private start browsing party on lawn of A research tower capable of attracting 3,000 people. people.
Cruise ships mooring during the launch of Artemis I
launch also planned on the day when five large cruise ships will in the port is Liberty and Liberty Carnival, Disney’s Wish and Royal Caribbean Independence. of Seas and Mariner of seas.
There will be total of about 40,000 people boarding or receiving off those ships that day, according to Peter Bergeron, a port senior director of public safety and security.
Bergeron also expects heavy cargo related truck traffic that day at the port.
“For this, every effort must be made on part of our cruise partners and all Port Canaveral Authority staff,” Bergeron said.
Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray said: “We have been working with state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as coordinating with our cruise partners in ensure our focus remains on safety and security for all port users. Bottom line – this launch day will be very busy with a lot of-higher volume of traffic on roads in and around Port Canaveral. best advice anyone planning to be in port canaveral that day please allow additional time.”
Jetty Park opens at 5 am. on launch day and will close to newcomers when its capacity is reached. Parking is limited by electronic passes. Parking passes must be purchased in promote. Not cash or credit card transactions are allowed at the entrance to the booth. Passers-by or cyclists will be allowed to enter the park until the capacity is full.
Parking in the harbor area will only for patrons and employees of Bay-area enterprises. Lots will close when maximum vehicle capacity has been reached.
Parking in cruise garages and surface parking will be only for cruise passengers.
Freddie Patrick’s Boat Rides at the Port and Boat Rides at Rodney S. Ketcham Park vehicle and trailer parking will be open and available boatmen on a first-come first is served until power is reached. Boat stands are reserved exclusively for for boater vehicles and trailers using boat ramps.
There will be no boat parking or viewing along State Road 401, George King Boulevard, other harbor roads or on in the middle of state road 528.
State Road 401 bridge won’t open for the ship is in transit from 7:30 to 12:00 on Monday.
Rick Neal is a reporter for South Brevard Watchdog on FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his story, click here.) Contact Neal at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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