Big Crowd Expected During Romney Visit to Dunedin Today

The GOP buzz is officially under way.

Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney swings through  on Monday afternoon (Jan. 30). 

City officials and businesses are preparing for large crowds, and have already issued two major road closures in the downtown area.

Romney's campaign staff rented the park for his last rally in Florida before republicans across the state head to the GOP primary polls Tuesday. 

So far, polls have the former governor of Massachusetts ahead of the other candidates: Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

Here's what's to know if you go — or even if you don't:

TIME: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., according Romney's campaign website.

ROAD CLOSURES (beginning midnight through Monday afternoon, according to the City of Dunedin): 

• Main Street (from Highland Avenue to the Pinellas Trail)
• Douglas Avenue (from Wood Street to Monroe Street)

Expect heavy traffic on surrounding streets (especially Skinner and Bayshore boulevards and Edgewater Drive).

COST: The rally is free and open to the public.

PATCH COVERAGE: Dunedin Patch will be tweeting from the rally. We'll let you know when we start, and keep you up-to-date throughout the day. 

SUGGESTED PARKING: Dunedin Chamber of Commerce issued a heads-up to merchants late Friday . If you arrive early (why not do lunch downtown beforehand?), you may be able to park in the public lot on Highland Avenue behind Paris Hair or on Douglas Avenue across from the Dunedin Brewery.

• Here is a link to more downtown parking from the City of Dunedin (also pictured above).
• If you do lunch, don't forget to review your lunch experience on Patch!