Outer lanes of Benjamin Franklin Parkway are expected to close on Saturday

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Beginning Saturday the outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closing.

Thursday afternoon road crews closed the inner lanes of the Parkway from 20th Street to Eakins Oval.

The last of the traffic detours are scheduled to be removed by 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.

Until then, persons wishing to enter or leave Center City via Kelly Drive will have to do so by driving through the Fairmount section.

In addition, drivers will not be able to access the Martin Luther King Drive from Eakins Oval or the Parkway.

Officials are advising drivers to use alternate routes, such as I-76 and I-676.

As the big event draws near, lane closures are proving to be a real headache for drivers on the road.

"Terrible, terrible," said one driver.

"Traffic's a nightmare," said another.

As crews began setting up for next week's papal visit and World Meeting of Families, road restrictions snarled traffic during the Friday morning commute.

"Traffic is horrible. No warning about this," said Mike Scott from Gladwyne.

The anticipated delays have led Septa to detour bus routes that South Philadelphia resident Lamar Bonner didn't know about.

"I was standing on the corner waiting for bus. A look at the sign and there was a detour sign and I was standing there for 45 minutes," said Bonner.

It's all to make way for the construction needed for the festival and papal Mass which will take place on the Parkway.

As the afternoon commute approached traffic seemed lighter and delays minimal.

One stage worker thinks the public got the message.

"I think people try to get around the best they can. You know, the information comes out on the newscasts and over the radio and people adjust to whatever's going on. This is Philadelphia - we adjust," said Ed Dougherty.

As for the six detoured bus routes, SEPTA says you can find all information listed on their website.

Police said drivers should continue to expect extremely heavy traffic, through Oct. 4, since the streets around the Parkway are not large enough to carry the volume of traffic that would normally use the Parkway and the river drives.

Officers will be assigned to help direct traffic at key intersections.

Stick with Action New in the coming days as the Festival of Families and the papal Mass, both taking place on the parkway, draw closer.

Click here for a full list of traffic closures.