Montgomery Co. pushes for Nat'l Guard troops during papal visit

NORRISTOWN, Pa. -- Officials in Montgomery County are pushing for more security when Pope Francis visits Philadelphia next month.

They are looking for as many as 600 National Guard troops to help out for the papal visit on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27.

The pope will be staying in Montgomery County at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The plan is to use National Guard troops to help with expected traffic there.

There will also be need for troops to help guard other roads that feed the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway, which will be closed.

"We certainly anticipate the side roads will quickly clog, so we have plans in place to try to expedite the movement of cars and open up traffic to pass, if the need arises," said Tom Sullivan, the Montgomery County Director of Public Safety.

Sullivan says the county also asking for Guard helicopters to survey the traffic and, if need be, transport critical first responders.

"Whether it's bomb squad for a suspicious package or hazmat teams, we'll have the same issue facing traffic as motorists will. So if we need those teams someplace for any event that weekend, we want to move them into pre-established landing zones," said Sullivan.

Another focus is the Schuylkill River Trail. The thinking is that many will use it to cycle or walk to see the pope.

Returning pilgrims would likely be traveling after dark, and that's where the Guard comes in. Uniformed personnel with flashlights would guide and protect those people.

Officials pointed out that the guard will primarily be deployed for traffic control.