NFL Draft traffic woes continue as Phase 2 nears

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The traffic detours related to the upcoming NFL Draft have only just begun.

So far, westbound Spring Garden Street at Pennsylvania Avenue, along with a couple of lanes around Eakins Oval are already closed.

Then, Phase 2 kicks-in a few hours before the Wednesday morning rush.

That's when the inner lanes of the Ben Franklin Parkway, inbound and outbound, will be closed from Eakins Oval to 20th Street.

Full List of NFL Draft road closures

Eric Finkelstein, the NFL's Director of Event Operations, says they are being as accommodating as possible.

"We did this in a very systematic way to try - yes, there are some street closures, but we're trying to do it as systematically as we can working very closely with the city," Finkelstein said.

Action News also spoke with a few people who live and work in this part of the city.

Most say they understand the value of high profile events in Philadelphia, but the whole road closure thing is getting old.

"Same thing with the pope, same thing with the Labor Day weekend concert," Gus Tsikoursis of Fairmount said.

"I'm probably planning to shut myself in like I've done the last couple times, like when the Democrats came to town, just not deal with any of the chaos. I'd like to come and enjoy the beautiful spring weather, but it's a mess," Jackie Fetzer of North Philadelphia said.

And it will only get messier when Phase 3 kicks in next Monday, when all lanes of the Parkway will be closed between the Art Museum and 20th Street.

Still, NFL officials say they are exceedingly confident that, in the end, it wil have been worth it - for football fans.

"One of the reasons why we wanted to come here was because of the passion of the fans and really bring the event to as many people as we can around the country. What better place to bring it to than Philadelphia?" Finkelstein said.

A Phase 4 with even more closures goes into effect on April 25.

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