PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Wawa Welcome America Festival takes over Philadelphia on July 4, which could have serious traffic implications for anyone traveling in or out of the city.
Even before the concert and fireworks on Thursday evening on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, many roads will be closed due to events in the city.
Below is a list of road closures to expect in the city, as well as more information about SEPTA train schedules, festival times, and this year’s performers.
Road closures for the Freedom Celebration
- 6th Street between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street for stage placement on July 3 from 8am-12pm
- 6th Street between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street for the removal of the stage on July 4th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Road closures for the Salute to Independence Parade
The following streets will be closed to the parade area:
- 2nd Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street from 6am to 1pm
- Chestnut/Market Street Viaduct between Chestnut and Front Streets to 2nd and Market Streets from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Market Street between 3rd Street and Front Street from 6am to 1pm
- Front Street between Dock Street and Market Street from 7am to 2pm
- Chestnut Street between 2nd Street and Front Street from 7am to 2pm
These streets will be closed from 10:30am until the end of the parade:
- 3rd Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 4th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 5th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 6th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 7th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 8th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 9th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 10th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 11th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- 12th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street
- JFK Blvd. between Market Street and 15th Street
- N. Broad Street between JFK Blvd. and Vine Street
- S. Penn Square from S. Broad Street to E. Market Street
- E. Market from Front Street to City Hall
- 12th Street between Vine Street and Market Street
- 13th Street between Vine Street and Market Street
- Arch Street between 12th Street and Broad Street
Road closures for the 4th of July concert and fireworks on the Parkway
The following closures will be in effect from approximately 5am on Thursday 4 July until 2am on Friday 5 July (unless otherwise stated):
- 1900 Racestraat
- 1800-1900 Wine Street
- I-676 exit at 22nd Street
- I-676 ramp at 22nd Street
- I-76 eastbound exit at Spring Garden Street
- Spring Garden Tunnel
- Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street
- 20th Street between Arch Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
- 19th Street between Callowhill Street and Cherry Street
The following closures will be in effect from approximately 5:00 a.m. on July 4 until 4:00 a.m. on Friday, July 5:
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 18th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes)
- Eakins Oval (all lanes)
- Kelly Drive between Eakins Oval and Fairmount Avenue (Kelly Drive towards Fountain Green Drive closed from approximately 5pm)
- Back of the Art Museum – Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive
- 2000-2100 Winter Street
- MLK Drive from Montgomery Drive to Eakins Oval
- Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and 31st Street
- 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Eakins Oval
The closures listed below will be in effect from approximately 5:00 a.m. on July 4 to 8:00 a.m. on July 5, unless otherwise noted:
- 22nd Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
- 21st Street between Winter Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
The following road closures will be in effect from approximately 1:00 p.m. on July 4 until approximately 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 5:
- All roads from Arch Street to Spring Garden Street, 18th Street to 22nd Street (local access will be maintained for residents)
- All roads from Arch Street to Fairmount Avenue, 22nd Street to Corinthian Street (local access for residents maintained)
- 16th and 17th Streets, between Arch Street and Spring Garden Street, will only be closed when conditions warrant in the interest of public safety.
- 1600-1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway will only be closed when circumstances warrant in the interest of public safety
For public safety reasons regarding the fireworks show, all roads listed below will be closed from 8pm on Thursday 4th July until approximately 1am on Friday 5th July, unless otherwise stated:
- Kelly Drive from Fairmount Avenue to Fountain Green Drive
- Lemon Hill Drive
- Sedgley drive
- Waterworks Drive
- Poplar Avenue
SEPTA Adds Train Service for July 4th Fireworks
On July 4, SEPTA will add extra afternoon and late night service. Regional Rail trains will operate on a Sunday schedule, with additional trains in addition to regular service on the Chestnut Hill East, Fox Chase, Media/Wawa, Manayunk/Norristown, Paoli/Doylestown, Trenton and Warminster lines.
Overnight trains are also being added to the Lansdale/Doylestown, Manayunk/Norristown, Paoli/Thorndale and Media/Wawa lines.
On the Broad Street Line, express trains depart every 10 minutes from Fern Rock Transportation Center between 6:00 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. Market-Frankford Line trains depart every 10 minutes during the same time from either the 69th Street Transit Center or the Frankford Transit Center.
Diversions will also affect dozens of bus routes on July 4 and possibly until July 5.
Who’s performing at Wawa Welcome America?
Ne-Yo and Kesha will headline the July 4 concert and fireworks on Benjamin Franklin Parkway starting at 7 p.m.
Before the headliners, Philadelphia artists DJ Diamond Kuts and Snacktime will perform together on the Pennsylvania Lottery Groove Stage from 4-6 p.m.
What time are the Wawa Welcome America fireworks?
Organizers have not released an exact time for the Welcome America fireworks to begin, only that they will start after the concert featuring Ne-Yo and Kesha ends.
