Media Room

News Release

Parking, Access, Information Available for Weekend Events

(Thursday, July 29/04) - Halifax Regional Municipality today reminded citizens of a number of changes put in place to accommodate the large crowds anticipated for the Tall Ships 2004, the Grou Tyme festival and annual Natal day activities this long weekend.

The municipality is urging residents and visitors to use Metro Transit bus and ferry services to avoid traffic congestion. Park and rides facilities are also available.

Parking will not be permitted in many of the waterfront parking lots this weekend, because they will be used as event venues. Monthly parkers are asked to check with the property managers about parking availability on the weekend. Also, parking will be limited at some of the meters in the downtown area and tow-away zones will also be strictly enforced.

To help alleviate parking problems, HMC Dockyard (off Barrington Street) is offering paid- parking for visitors this weekend, at a rate of $5 per vehicle, on Friday evening, beginning at 4:00 pm; on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, beginning at 9:00 am. For information pertaining to Dockyard parking, please contact the Military Family Resource Centre, 24-hours a day, at 427-7788.

Because of the large crowds expected, there will be a number of temporary street closures in downtown Halifax. They include:

• Lower Water Street, between George and Salter streets, and Prince and Sackville streets (at Bedford Row). These closures are in effect, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m, today and Friday, July 30. These streets will remain closed all day on Saturday, July 31; Sunday, Aug. 1, and Monday, August 2, between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m.

• Northbound traffic on Lower Water Street will be detoured left onto Morris Street, except for local traffic.

From 8:00 am on Monday, until after the Parade of Sail that day at approximately 7 pm, the following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic: (The general public may access these areas, however, not by vehicle. Residents only of these streets will have special access with their vehicles.)

- In Purcell's Cove area: Battery Dr., Ferguson's Cove Road and Duncan's Cove Road.

Because this is considered a prime viewing area, HRM suggests that residents/visitors take the bus Route # 15 which runs along Purcell's Cove Road and get off at the bus stop at the top of Ferguson's Cove Road or the one at York Redoubt.

- In the Herring Cove area: Power Road and Shore Road

There will be Public Safety facilities, Volunteers and Special Information booths, Lost and Found booths located on the waterfront and at other Tall Ships event venues. Police, Fire and Emergency, and Emergency Medical Services available and very visible in these locations.

There will be several Tall Ships volunteers available along the waterfront and other key areas, such as the Woodside and Alderney ferry terminals, to assist with questions and directions.

Access for the Disabled: The waterfront area for viewing the Tall Ships will be generally accessible to wheelchair users, and washroom facilities will be available on site.

• The tall ship, Tenacious, will be accessible to those with disabilities during their regular viewing hours from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and a volunteer will be on-site to assist with boarding.
• There will be a designated wheelchair viewing area set-up at the southern most end of the waterfront boardwalk on Monday afternoon, during the Parade of Sail. Drop off location will be at Ocean Terminal, 1215 Marginal Road, at the entrance to the harbour walk. Viewing area is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. If possible, persons in wheelchairs are advised to visit the site during the early morning, to avoid the crowds and anticipated high temperatures.

Private Boaters: Boaters will be permitted to view the Tall Ships at their berths. However, all vessels must proceed at a safe speed (no more than 8 knots), so as not to create a significant wake. Also, boaters are requested to observe the 30-metre buzzer zone around the berthed tall ships.

During the Parade of Sail on Monday, August 2nd, boater access will be restricted within the harbour area, but there will be plenty of room for viewing the spectacle from the water.

Further detailed information pertaining to HRM services relating to Tall Ships Challenge 2004 is available on the HRM website at www.halifax.ca/tallships2004. Inquiries may also be directed to HRM Customer Call Centre at 902-490-4000. More information about the Tall Ships Challenge 2004 is available on the Nova Scotia government website at www.novascotia.com/tallships and on the CBC website at www.cbc.ca/tallships2004.

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Robin Boudreau
HRM Recreation, Tourism and Culture
(902) 490-4549