INDIO (CNS) - The Coachella Music & Art Festival has been over for
almost a week, but festival traffic is about to surge anew with Stagecoach
opening tomorrow (Friday), prompting authorities to point out
potential congestion issues throughout the valley.
Honkytonkers will begin their trek into Indio today for the country
music festival, and despite the availability of the Any Line Shuttle, which can
carry festivalgoers between the grounds and area hotels, major congestion is
still anticipated on multiple routes.
Around 40,000 festival attendees will spill from the desert
fairgrounds on Monday, so authorities warn of significant traffic on the 10
Freeway, authorities warned.
The 10 and the 60 freeways are also expected to experience serious
congestion through over the weekend.
``Motorists who plan to use Interstate 10 between Beaumont and Indio
or state Route 60 from Moreno Valley to Beaumont during these events will
experience traffic delays during peak travel times,'' Caltrans spokeswoman
Terri Kasinga said.
The 2019 country music festival will be headlined by Luke Bryan, Sam
Hunt and Jason Aldean. The event will mark Bryan's fifth Stagecoach performance
and the third time he's been billed as a headliner. Bryan is set to headline
Friday's show.
Hunt, who will be the Saturday headliner, previously performed at
Stagecoach in 2016.
Aldean will conclude the weekend with his fourth Stagecoach appearance
and his second headlining spot. He and Bryan headlined the 2014 festival.
General admission passes priced at $349 are sold out, while general
admission and shuttle pass combos are still available for $409. The three-day
country music festival will be begin Friday at its usual venue, the Empire Polo
Club.
Travelers motoring through the desert should expect traffic delays
starting today and continuing through Sunday on the following stretches:
-- southbound Jefferson, Washington and Monroe streets from the 10
Freeway to Avenue 52;
-- Avenue 48 between Jefferson and Jackson streets;
-- Highway 111 at Jefferson and Monroe streets; and
-- eastbound 10 Freeway exits at Jefferson, Monroe and Washington streets.
Several significant road closures are also planned Friday through Monday:
-- Avenue 49 between Hjorth and Monroe streets;
-- Avenue 50 between Madison and Jackson streets;
-- Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50; and
-- Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52.
For motorists traveling north- and south-bound, city officials suggest
taking Washington, Jackson and Calhoun streets as well as Golf Center
Parkway; while east-west travelers should use Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive,
Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54.
More information on the festival is available at
www.stagecoachfestival.com.
Indio officials strongly encouraged Stagecoach attendees to take
advantage of the Any Line Shuttle, which costs $80 for the entire weekend and
services hotels in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and other local
resorts.
Once at Stagecoach, police recommend out-of-towners examine the Indio
police Facebook and Twitter pages for traffic and safety tips.
Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron also reminded attendees to be aware
of their cellphones at all times and ``take advantage of the apps that help
locate your phone, the apps for security that lock your phones -- your
thumbprint or your passcode.''
``Nowadays, most people have more than just a directory. They have
personal credit card information and accounts,'' Guitron said.
And, don't forget to juice the devices for a full-day of battery-life
in case there is an emergency or festival attendees have to contact friends or
get a much-needed ride. Police further reminded people to always lock their
vehicles and campsites.
If items are lost at the festival, please check the Lost and Found area.
Indio police suggest using the department's website to report any
missing items if something is lost outside of the festival in Indio.
``If they are staying at a hotel, or a rental or a home in the city,
they'll need to contact the police department,'' Guitron said. ``But, at the
same time, they can do it online. And, that helps us.''
People can access the Indio police online services at
https://www.indio.org/your_government/police/default.htm .
Any items lost outside the city of Indio should be reported to the
respective city's police department.
