Secret Service Releases St. Pete RNC Security Plan

The Secret Service has announced security restrictions and transportation plans for St. Petersburg during the Republican National Convention's kickoff party at Tropicana Field. 

Roads that will be fully or partially closed include I-175, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 1st Avenue South, among many others. 

Pedestrian access will be severely restricted around Tropicana Field before and during the Aug. 26 party. 

According to the Secret Service, parking areas in restricted areas will be posted with “Emergency No Parking” signs. 

Fencing, other physical barriers and uniformed law enforcement officers will enforce vehicle and pedestrian restricted zones.

ROAD CLOSURES

The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, through 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27:

• 1st Avenue N between 11th Street and 16th Street;
• 2nd Avenue N between 13th Street and 16th Street ;
• 4th Avenue S between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street;
• Baum Avenue N, from 13th Street east to the property located at 1210 1st Ave. N;
• Arlington Avenue N, between 13th Street and 14th Street;
• Alley north of Arlington Avenue N, between 13th Street and 16th Street;
• 13th Street N, between 1st Avenue South and Arlington Avenue N;
• 13th Street N, between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue N (southbound lane only);
• 14th Street N, between Arlington Avenue N and 2nd Avenue N;
• Delmar Terrace S, between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street.

The following roads will be closed beginning 4:30 a.m., Aug. 26, to  6 a.m., Aug. 27:

• All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North;
• 5th Street N, between 2nd Avenue N and 3rd Avenue N;
• 2nd Avenue N, between Mirror Lake Drive and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street;
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, between Burlington Avenue N and 5th Avenue S;
• 1st Avenue N, between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street;
• 1st Avenue S, between 8th Street and 18th Street;
• 2nd Avenue S, between 8th Street and 10th Street;
• Alley north of 2nd Avenue S, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 10th Street;
• 3rd Avenue S, between 8th Street and 10th Street;
• 3rd Avenue S, between 16th Street and 19th Street;
• 4th Avenue S, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 19th Street;
• 5th Avenue S, between 8th Street and 20th Street;
• Stadium Drive, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 16th Street;
• 7th Avenue South, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 16th Street (westbound lane closure only);
• 10th Street S, between 1st Avenue S and 4th Avenue S;
• 16th Street S, between Central Avenue and 5th Avenue S;
• 16th Street S, between 5th Avenue S and 7th Avenue S (northbound curb lane only);
• 19th Street S, between 5th Avenue S and 1st Avenue S;
• 17th Street S, between 1st Avenue S and 3rd Avenue S;
• 10th Street S, between 7th Avenue S and 5th Avenue S;
• 12th Street S, between 7th Avenue S and 5th Avenue S;
• 14th Street S, between 7th Avenue S and 5th Avenue S;
• 6th Avenue S, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 10th Street;
• Blackburn Court South, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 10th Street.

 I-175/South Bay Drive: Interstate 175/South Bay Drive, including all entrance and exits ramps and pedestrian overpass will be closed on Sunday, Aug. 26, from 2 p.m.-11:59 p.m.

PEDESTRIAN RESTRICTIONS

Many sidewalks and trails next to streets that are closed will have limited access during the Aug. 26 RNC event at the Trop.

Most notably, the Pinellas Trail will be shut down between 10th Street and 20th Street. 

The following areas will be closed to general public pedestrian access from 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27:

• 2nd Avenue North, to 1st Avenue North, from 16th Street to 13th Street;
• 16th Street to 13th Street, from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue North;
• 1st Avenue North to Baum Avenue North, from 13th Street to east to the property located at 1210 1st Ave. N;
• 13th Street North to the CSX Railroad Easement, from 1st Avenue North to Central Avenue;
• North sidewalk of Central Avenue, from 13th Street to the CSX Railroad Easement.

The following areas will be closed to general public pedestrian access from 4:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 26, through 6 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27:

• 1st Avenue South to 4th Avenue South, from 16th Street to 10th Street;
• 17th Street to 10th Street, from 1st Avenue South to 3rd Avenue South;
• 3rd Avenue South to 4th Avenue South, from 10th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street;
• 10th Street South to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, from 3rd Avenue South to 4th Avenue South;
• 4th Avenue South to 5th Avenue South, from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street to 8th Street South;
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street to 8th Street South, from 4th Avenue South to 5th Avenue South;
• 5th Avenue South to 7th Avenue South, from 16th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street;
• 16th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, from 5th Avenue South to 7th Avenue South;
• 3rd Avenue South to 5th Avenue South, from 19th Street to 16th Street;
• 19th Street South to 16th Street, from 3rd Avenue South to 5th Avenue South.

Police and Fire Stations Closed to Public

The St. Petersburg Police Department Headquarters building, 1300 1st Ave. North, will temporarily close to the public from 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27. 

According to a Secret Service news release, a temporary off-site location will be established for the public to make a police report of an incident.

The St. Petersburg Fire Headquarters building, 400 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. South, and St. Petersburg Fire Station #1 & #5, 455 8th St. South, will temporarily close to the public from 5p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27.