Dover residents may want to adjust any plans they have for traveling around town this weekend as tens of thousands of music fans pull into the city for the Firefly Music Festival.
The 3-day festival on the grounds of Dover International Speedway gets underway on Friday and runs through Sunday. With around 60 thousand fans expected, state and local police are coordinating with Delaware's Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to monitor traffic flows.
Jim Clacher, manager of DelDOT’s Transportation Management Center, recommends avoiding the area throughout the weekend.
“There will be some congestion around the North State Street area going on to Leipsic Road, so those individuals that can avoid that area either using Route 1 to avoid the area, or possibly Saulsbury Road and coming up to Route 13 to avoid the you know that congestion area between Dover International Speedway Main Entrance and the Leipsic Road area,” said Clacher.
And while DelDOT and the Dover area accustomed to dealing with traffic associated with the two NASCAR weekends at at the speedway, Clacher says Firefly traffic patterns are very different.
“This is an event unlike NASCAR where everybody comes in at a certain time period, they watch the race and then everybody leaves. This event there’ll be somewhat of a rush in the morning for some people to get here and get their festival started, while others will trickle in throughout the day,” said Clacher.
Clacher adds drivers should also be on the lookout for additional foot traffic along Route 13 and nearby roads throughout the festival.
During Firefly, Leipsic Road and Persimmon Tree Road will be closed near the track beginning at 10 am Friday until the last encore on Sunday evening. Detours will be posted or drivers are can adjust their routes using DelDOTs Smartphone app.
Campers at the Firefly Festival should use Leipsic Road and check in at the Lot One Entrance.
Single day ticket holders should check in at the Main Entrance of Dover Downs International Speedway.