Don’t forget this weekend’s road closings– and get caught in traffic! This Saturday is the Monument Avenue 10K with a record 37,000+ participants.  Many streets in the Fan and the Near West End will be closed, and many more will be  filled with cars looking for parking.  Here’s the lowdown so you can avoid it (or embrace it if you are racing!). Near West End streets are in BOLD.

ROAD CLOSINGS:

· Broad Street will be closed between Belvidere Street and Lombardy Street from 4 AM to Noon. The recommended detour for westbound traffic is right on Belvidere Street to 95 North. The recommended detour for eastbound traffic is left on Allen Avenue, right on Leigh Street, right on Belvidere. Motorists are encouraged to use I-95 as an alternate.

· Laurel Street will be closed between Main and Grace Street from 4 AM to 3 PM.

· Franklin Street will be closed between Shafer Street and Belvidere Street from 4 AM to 2:30 PM.

· Cathedral Place will close from Laurel to Shafer Court from 4 AM to 3 PM.

· Park Avenue will close from Shafer Court to Lombardy Street/Stuart Circle from 6 AM to 9 AM.

· Lombardy Street will be closed between Broad Street and Franklin Street (Stuart Circle) from 7 AM to 2:30 PM.

· Lombardy Street will be closed between Stuart Circle and Park Avenue from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM.

· Franklin Street will be closed between Lombardy Street and Shafer Street from 7 AM to 2:30 PM.

· Grace Street will be closed between Belvidere Street and Allen Avenue from 7 AM to 11 AM.

· Monument Avenue / Franklin Street will be closed between Staples Mill Road and Stuart Circle (Lombardy Street) from 7 AM to 2:30 PM. The recommended detour for eastbound traffic is left on Staples Mill Road, right on Broad Street, left on Allen Avenue, right on Leigh Street, right on Belvidere Street. The recommended detour for westbound traffic is right on Belvidere Street, left on Leigh Street, left on Allen Avenue, right on Broad Street.

· The Boulevard will be closed at Monument Avenue from 8:30 AM to 1 PM. The recommended detour for northbound traffic is left on Park Avenue, right on Thompson Street to 195. The recommended detour for southbound traffic is right on Grace Street, right on Thompson Street, left on Broad Street, left on Hamilton Street to 195.

· There will also be numerous street closings for all north and south streets intersecting Monument Avenue/Franklin Street between Staples Mill Road and Belvidere Street.

UPDATED 8:03 am

Richmond Public Schools are now CLOSED for today, Wednesday, Feb. 10th.

Henrico County Schools are CLOSED today,Wednesday, February 10th. They are bringing elementary kids home if they are on the bus, or will hold them until they reach a parent.

The report from drivers in the Near West End is that roads are incredibly slick due to ice under the snow. DO NOT go out if you don’t have to.