City and County of Honolulu News Releases

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CITY VEHICLES WILL PARADE THROUGH DOWNTOWN   (Fri., November 25, 2011) — The annual Honolulu City Lights Public Workers Electric Light Parade will be held on the evening of Saturday, December 3, 2011, in Chinatown and Downtown.               The Electric Light Parade, co-sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Company, Macy's, the Friends of Honolulu City Lights, and the City and County of Honolulu, features work vehicles adorned with holiday lights and special decorations.  Among the units will be fire and police vehicles, TheBus, TheHandi-Van, and other service vehicles.  More than 13 high school bands are also expected to perform in the parade.               Street closures for the annual Honolulu City Lights Public Workers Electric Light Parade will affect the movement of traffic in the Chinatown and Downtown areas on the evening of Saturday, December 3.  Details on the route, street closures and detours, and parking restrictions follow.   PARADE ROUTE             The parade starts at approximately 6 p.m. at King and River streets, continues on King Street past Honolulu Hale, and ends at Kawaiahao Street.  Marching bands and some vehicles will continue through the Alapai/South/Kapiolani streets intersection to disburse.  Parade vehicles will park on South King between Punchbowl and Alapai streets for public viewing until 8:00 p.m.   DETOURS IN CHINATOWN AND DOWNTOWN   Makai-bound traffic on Maunakea Street from Beretania Street will be detoured east-bound to Pauahi Street. Bethel Street will be converted into a two-way street for local traffic only, between Hotel Street to the Macy's parking lot driveway. Intermittent traffic flow will be allowed to cross King Street on Nuuanu Avenue and Alakea Street at selected break points in the parade. Bishop Street will become two-way (for local traffic only) between Beretania Street and the Executive Centre parking lot driveway.   PARKING IN CHINATOWN AND DOWNTOWN   Motorists bound for Chinatown and Downtown Honolulu are advised to arrive well before 5 p.m. and to plan for traffic delays. Special traffic controls will be in place to allow access from Beretania Street to parking at Mark's Garage, Macy's and the Chinatown Gateway parking lots for those attending the event at the Hawaii Theater. Parking is also available in the Smith-Beretania Park and Hale Pauahi parking garages.   STREET CLOSURES, DECEMBER 3, 2011   11:00 a.m.:  Left lane closest to Honolulu Hale on King Street from Punchbowl Street to Kawaiahao Street:  Coning will be in effect until the set up of the tree lighting ceremony is completed.   1:30 p.m.:  Crowd-control barricades will be placed on both sides of King Street from Richards to Punchbowl streets.  Trucks will be unloading barricades in lanes nearest the sidewalk.   3:00 p.m.:  Crowd-control barricades will be placed on both sides of King Street from Punchbowl to South streets.  Trucks will be unloading barricades in lanes nearest the sidewalk.   3:30 p.m.:  Curb lanes on North King Street between Beretania and River streets, and Iwilei Road from Kuwili Street to King Street, will be closed for parade vehicle staging.   4:30 p.m.:  Punchbowl Street closed between Beretania and King streets.  Makai-bound traffic will be detoured to Beretania Street.   5:00 p.m.:  North King Street closed from Iwilei Road to River Street.  Eastbound traffic on King Street will be detoured to Beretania.   5:00 p.m.:  Three mauka lanes on South King Street closed from Alapai Street to Ward Avenue.  Three Ewa lanes on South Street closed from Kapiolani Boulevard to Queen Street.   5:05 p.m.:  King Street between Punchbowl and Alapai/South will be streets closed.  Eastbound traffic on King Street will be detoured to Punchbowl Street makai bound.  The Bus Stop on King/Punchbowl Street will be relocated to Punchbowl Street.   5:30 p.m.:  King Street will close progressively along the parade route and reopen progressively after the parade, except for the section of King Street from Punchbowl to the Alapai/South/King Street intersection, which will remain closed until 9:00 p.m.               River Street will be closed at Pauahi Street.             Bishop will be two-way between Beretania and the Executive Center parking lot driveway.             Makai-bound traffic on Maunakea will be detoured to Pauahi Street.             Nuuanu Avenue will be open with intermittent traffic flow.             Bethel Street will become two-way, between Hotel Street and Macy's parking lot entrance.             Richards Street mauka of King Street will be closed at Beretania Street             Kekaulike, Maunakea, and Smith streets makai of King Street will be closed at Nimitz Highway.             Bethel Street will be closed at Merchant Street.             Mililani Street will be closed at Queen Street.             Alakea Street will be open with intermittent traffic flow allowed.   6:00 p.m.:  Parade Starts   PARKING PROHIBITIONS   No parking allowed (cars will be towed) after 1:00 p.m. to 12 midnight on Saturday, December 3, 2011 on the following streets: PUNCHBOWL ST., Beretania St to King St, both sides. PUNCHBOWL ST., King St to Queen St, ewa side. KING ST., Both sides River to Alapai Street. KING ST., Kawaiahao Street to South Street, makai side KAWAIAHAO ST., closest to King St, parking meters (4) on the ewa side and parking meters (4) on the koko head side. SOUTH KING STREET, Both sides from Alapai Street to Ward Avenue. SOUTH STREET, Both sides from Kapiolani Boulevard to Queen Street.   No Parking allowed (cars will be towed) from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Saturday, December 3, 2011. BERETANIA ST., both sides, River Street to N. King Street RIVER ST., both sides, N. Beretania Street to Hotel St. BETHEL ST., both sides, King Street to Pauahi Street.   THEBUS DETOURS               The following bus detours are usually in place for the parade.  Please check www.thebus.org or call 848-5555 for updated information.   4:30 p.m.:  Eastbound routes A, B, C, 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13  19, 20, 40, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54, and 62 that traverse through Downtown from Aala Park will be detoured via Liliha, east on Vineyard Boulevard, right on Nuuanu Avenue, and left on Hotel Street.   From 5 p.m.:  All city buses entering Bishop Street will also be detoured.   Bus stops on Hotel and King streets ewa of Nuuanu to the King/Liliha Street intersection will not be serviced until the completion of the parade.   -30-   Media Contact:  Parade Coordinator Edward Oi at Department of Customer Services - 768-3499. Street Usage Permits Office, Department of Transportation Services - 768-8387.