Downtown Miami Expected To Be Packed This Weekend

MIAMI (CBS4) - Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pack downtown Miami this weekend and that means traffic, road closures, and detours. The Ultra Music Festival is just one of several big events already causing headaches for drivers.

Traffic backups began even before the official start of Ultra. In a matter of blocks along Biscayne Boulevard, there are shows at the Adrienne Arsht Center, Cavalia, and Disney on Ice at American Airlines Arena.

The crowds will stretch from Brickell, where there's a food and wine festival, to the beach, where Fashion Week is attracting an audience, to Key Biscayne for the Sony Ericsson Open.

Biscayne Boulevard, between SE 1 Street & NE 3 Street, will be closed to northbound traffic from Thursday, March 22 at 10:00 pm through Monday, March 26 at 5:00 am. Northbound traffic will be diverted to southbound Biscayne Blvd within the same limit. Drivers who wish to avoid the area can use I-95 as an alternate route.

"It's just like mindboggling," said Joanne Grady who lives downtown. She isn't sure how she'll get in and out of her parking garage while the northbound lanes of Biscayne Boulevard are closed. "I think we're going to have to come back from school tomorrow and stay in the house," she said.

Others say the fun is well worth the wait. "If you love deejays and want to hear what they've got, definitely yeah fight the traffic," said Nora Fuchser. But if you don't have to be here, Miami resident, Michelle Blate warns, "Stay away as far away as possible."

Starting Thursday there will be limited access to Bayfront Park. The park's valet & self parking lot will be closed until further notice.

The free yoga classes given in the park will still take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The class on Wednesday, March 21st, will take place on a walkway next to the Tina Hills Pavilion. The sole access to the class is at the south-eastern corner of the park, next to the Hotel InterContinental and Biscayne Bay. The class on Saturday, March 24th will take place at Bayside Marketplace, next to the Marina Stage. The location of the Monday, March 26th, class is to be determined.

The self defense class on Wednesday, March 21st, will take place on a walkway next to the Tina Hills Pavilion. The sole access to the class is at the south-eastern corner of the park, next to the Hotel InterContinental and Biscayne Bay. The location of the Monday, March 26th, class is to be determined.

There is no access to the Lee & Tina Hills Playground until further notice.

Ultra Music Festival
CAN U FEEL IT (Klipsch Amphitheater at Bayfront Park)
The UMF Experience - The Exclusive World Premiere of the Documentary
Wednesday, March 21, 7:00pm-11:00pm

Ultra Live Presents: Above & Beyond - Group Therapy Miami
(Klipsch Amphitheater at Bayfront Park)
Thursday, March 22, 5:00pm-11:00pm

Ultra Music Festival (Bayfront Park)
Fri, Sat, & Sun: March 23-25
Friday: 3:00pm-Midnight
Saturday: Noon-Midnight
Sunday: Noon-11:00pm