by Nick Castele
See the maps below for road closures.
The U.S. Secret Service late Thursday announced which roads will be closed around Quicken Loans Arena during the Republican National Convention. Many of the closures around the arena are slated to go into effect early on Saturday, July 16.
The Secret Service plans to shut down the roads immediately around Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field—including Ontario Street and East Ninth south of Prospect.
Prospect Avenue will be closed to vehicles, but open to pedestrians, from West Third Street to East Ninth.
The Innerbelt Freeway will be closed in both directions each night from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. the week of the convention, beginning Monday, and will otherwise be limited to one lane in each direction.
The Secret Service’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Ronald Rowe, says the agency wants to ensure a safe environment, though that may cause inconveniences.
Street parking will be banned north of Carnegie Avenue throughout downtown, as well as on West 25 th Street in Ohio City.
“We encourage people to come downtown,” Rowe said. “They may have to alter their plans a little bit as far as their routes, or they may have to change their hours when they come in. But we would encourage them to take public transportation, find alternate routes, but they should be able to continue and proceed with their daily routine.”
Lakeside will be closed around the Convention Center. And much of the Shoreway downtown will be closed the Sunday before the convention for the RNC welcome event.
Law enforcement plans to screen any deliveries coming into businesses around the convention area, and will check the cars of downtown residents who park nearby.
