Tomorrow’s (Tuesday) PAL fireworks display is one of the best days of the year.
And also the one with the heaviest amount of (planned) traffic.
All roads south of Greens Farms Road, between Compo Road South and Hillspoint Road, are affected.
Westport Police recommend that attendees plan to arrive early. Traffic delays are inevitable.
The beach will close at 4 p.m. Only vehicles with fireworks passes hanging on rearview mirrors can remain. All others will be ticketed or towed.
The beach should reopen to ticket holders by 5 p.m.
Parks & Recreation staff make entry to the fireworks easy.
For ticket holders:
Access to the fireworks is through South Compo Road only. Hillspoint Road south of Greens Farms Road will be only to residents south of that intersection.
Attendees should display their ticket on the rearview mirror.
All ticket holders must be inside Compo Beach by 9 p.m. No vehicular beach traffic will be allowed south of the Minute Man monument after that time.
Handicap parking is available between the cannons and the pavilion, on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you do not have a ticket:
Vehicles without a ticket will not be able to go any further towards Compo Beach than the Minute Man monument.
Anyone using Uber, Lyft or taxi services will be directed straight past the Minute Man, on Compo Road South. Visitors can walk from Compo Road South and Soundview Drive to the beach.
NOTE: If you use this method of transportation, return service will not be available until after 11 p.m., due to one-way traffic exiting the beach area.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR POST-FIREWORKS TRAFFIC
Just prior to the conclusion of the fireworks display, 2-way traffic will be suspended on Compo Beach Road and South Compo Road to the intersection of Greens Farms Road. There will be 2 lanes of northbound traffic until the beach is cleared.
Residents of this area will encounter delays getting home for approximately one hour, or until traffic has cleared from the beach area.
Anyone planning to pick up people in the beach area should also plan for delays.
There are lots of people at the fireworks (even if they’re not there all afternoon). But after everyone arrives — and the final firework is shot — getting home takes awhile. (Photos/Dan Woog)
Best traffic of the year!!!
Can people ride bicycles to Compo Beach?
Of course. But they better have lights and reflective wear for the ride home, in the dark and with tons of traffic.
1.) Are there still passes available? 2.) Poor Uber/Lyft drivers who sign up to take someone for a normally 5-minute ride to the beach and end up stuck in traffic for an hour…
As of 6 pm tonight (Monday), there are 15 tickets left.
It was tricky 20 years ago…no thanks! Have fun everyone!
Dan, thanks for all the useful info. Maybe an all caps note on everyone’s civic duty to leave no trash at the end of the evening?