Monday, April 05, 1999
Opening Day drivers should leave early to avoid gridlock
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — There will be no sleeping-in on Opening Day for Vera and Daryl McLeod. The Warren County couple will be early risers and venture south on Interstate 71 in hopes of dodging snarled traffic and finding a downtown parking spot.
“We're thinking about going really early to hang out. We'll go to see if there's anything to cheer about this year,” she said Sunday.
Downtown traffic — thanks to Fort Washington Way and construction of Paul Brown Stadium — will be total gridlock, she fears. The McLeods passed through downtown Sunday on their way back from Florida and tried to scout out places they could park today.
“Every place that we looked is a construction zone now,” she said.
Construction has eliminated all exits off Fort Washington Way
that once led into downtown and to Cinergy Field. From Interstate 75
south, take the Fifth Street or Seventh Street exits; on Interstate 71
south, take the Reading Road, Gilbert Avenue or Eggleston Avenue
exits.
Best advice: Take the bus, or car pool and arrive early with lots of folding money. Not only are parkings space at a premium, but prices in
most garages and lots have soared.
"Traffic will be a mess, so you might as well come downtown early
and see the parade," said Neil Luken, parade chairman and a stand
owner at Findlay Market. "It's going to be a really nice show. There'll be
something for everybody from young to old - old-fashioned cars to the
Rugrats."
Other nuggets Reds fans should know about:
• Parade: Before baseball comes the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade — 80 years of tradition and 140 entries marching through downtown Cincinnati. It starts at 11 a.m. at Race and Elder streets in Over-the-Rhine.
• Forecast: Beautiful day for baseball! Look for sunshine and a few scattered clouds with a high of 70.
• Traffic: Will be rerouted to make way for the parade, as will downtown Metro routes. Metro otherwise plans regular service. Get live traffic updates at Cincinnati.com/traffic
• Personalities: Parade grand marshals are Joe Nuxhall, now in his 33rd year as a Reds announcer, and country star Kenny Rogers.
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