As the date of the total solar eclipse nears, Mayor John Lombardi III on Wednesday announced tentative one-day-only street closures.
Beginning early evening April 7, and continuing into the night of April 8, these streets will be closed to vehicular traffic: Niagara Street between Transit and Church streets, Church Street between Ontario and Main streets, and Main Street between Transit and Cottage streets. Southbound traffic on Clinton Street is to be detoured onto Grand Street.
The street closures are intended to guide vehicular traffic to the main state routes in the city, routes 31 and 78.
In addition, State Road from Transit to Summit Street will be blocked off to give EMS personnel a straight shot to the Lockport Memorial Hospital emergency room on the Route 93 bypass.
The exact beginning and end times of street closures is still being discussed, according to Lombardi.
City hall will be closed on April 8.
The mayor also announced that the city hall parking lot, and the area south of city hall that’s already marked off by the state transportation department, will be fenced off to block vehicle and pedestrian access. Both rest on the Big Bridge, and according to former city engineer Steve Pump, DOT has concerns about load capacity in the flagged area, which needs repairs. The effect of allowing vehicles and people on that part of the bridge is unpredictable and potentially dangerous, Pump said.
Lombardi said there is an “anticipated large influx of people” in the city due to the eclipse. His office confirmed all local hotel rooms are booked.
Further, he said residents should anticipate local traffic delays from April 5 through April 8, and encouraged residents to gas up their vehicles and grocery shop before eclipse “weekend” gets underway.