The 50th annual Grand Prix of Long Beach is right around the corner.
And whether you’re attending the three-day weekend festivities or just have other plans in downtown Long Beach, you’ll need to be aware of upcoming street closures.
The city will begin closing streets on Wednesday, April 9, as officials make final preparations for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will take place from Friday to Sunday, April 11-13.
Here’s what you need to know:
Wednesday, April 9
The side streets leading into the Grand Prix’s circuit off Shoreline Drive and Seaside Way will close at 4 a.m.
A few hours later, at 7 a.m., the northbound Queensway Bridge off-ramp and southbound Queensway Bridge on-ramp for Shoreline Drive will also shut down, along with Aquarium Way south of Shoreline Drive and westbound Shoreline Drive.
At 3 p.m., eastbound Shoreline Drive from Broadway to Ocean Boulevard will close.
Pine Avenue, though, will remain open to traffic on Wednesday for visitors to hotels, waterfront restaurants, Shoreline Village and Shoreline Marina tenants, the city said in a traffic advisory last week.
The Aquarium of the Pacific will be accessible by Chestnut Place and Golden Shore Avenue. All vehicles must be out of the Aquarium parking structure by 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 10.
Friday to Sunday, April 11-13
During the Grand Prix, the city will shut off access to the Hyatt Regency, Shoreline Village and the Shoreline Marina from Ocean Boulevard, and Pine Avenue will close every morning at 6 a.m.
Southbound Pine Avenue and the interior streets of The Pike north of Shoreline Drive will also close each morning at 6 a.m., the city said.
Access to the south side of the Grand Prix track will be provided to event passholders and boat owners with permits at the intersection of Alamitos Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
Pine Avenue will reopen to general traffic at 7 p.m. each day so people can access the Hyatt Regency, Shoreline Village and other destinations in the area.
Monday, April 14
Long Beach expects all streets should be reopened to traffic by 5 p.m. Monday. The streets that will reopen by then include east- and westbound Shoreline Drive, the Queensway Bridge off- and on-ramps, east- and westbound Seaside Way, Pine Avenue, and Shoreline Village Drive.
Aquarium of the Pacific
The aquarium will remain open to visitors during Grand Prix weekend, but accessing it will be tricky, especially with its parking garage closed during the three-day racing event.
After 3 p.m. Thursday, the Aquarium of the Pacific will only be accessible via Chestnut Place or Golden Shore Avenue. Visitor parking will be available at the Queen Mary parking lot and free shuttles will be available during operating hours.
For more information about street closures, visit the city’s website.