Newport Jazz Festival Starts Friday, Expect Heavy Traffic

NEWPORT, RI — The Newport Jazz Festival starts Friday and with it traffic congestion, the police department warned.

The police issued a traffic advisory telling residents to "expect heavy traffic on Harrison Avenue and the roads surrounding Fort Adams as vehicles will be entering the fort. Newport Police Officers will be helping with overall safety and traffic movement in the area."

The advisory said traffic congestion will start at 8 a.m. each day from Friday through Sunday.

"Vehicles typically begin exiting Fort Adams around 7:30 p.m.," the advisory said.

Heavy traffic is expected on Harrison Avenue, Ruggles Avenue, Bellevue Avenue, Narragansett Avenue, Coggeshall Avenue, Annandale Road, Memorial Boulevard and in the downtown area," it said." Traffic will be dispersed on Memorial Boulevard. Businesses and restaurants in the downtown area will be opened and accessible."