News

December 28, 2023 | From City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans Announces Upcoming Holiday Weekend Traffic Impacts and Public Safety Preparations

NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today announced traffic, transportation and parking impacts, as well as public safety preparations due to upcoming events associated with New Year's Eve and the 2024 Allstate Sugar Bowl. The activities will kick off on Friday, Dec. 29 and will commence on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. 

Weekend Event Listing 

  • Allstate New Year's Eve Parade 
    • Sunday, Dec. 31, 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. 
    • Start at Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street | More info 
  • New Year's Eve Fireworks Display
    • Saturday, Dec. 31, Midnight 
    • Riverfront | More info 
  • 90th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl
    • Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 7:45 p.m. 
    • Caesars Superdome | More info 

Traffic Restrictions 

Residents and visitors should expect heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the Central Business District, French Quarter, and Marigny throughout the New Year's Eve and Allstate Sugar Bowl events. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) will restrict vehicular traffic in and around the French Quarter as follows: 

NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ALLOWED  

5 p.m. - 4 a.m. overnight Friday, Dec. 29 through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 

  • Dauphine Street at all intersections from Iberville Street to St. Ann Street 
  • Royal Street at all intersections from Iberville Street to St. Ann Street 
  • 700-800 blocks of St. Ann Street, Orleans Avenue, St. Peter Street, Toulouse Street, St. Louis Street, Conti Street, Bienville Street and Iberville Street 
  • Bourbon Street at all intersections from Iberville Street to St. Ann Street 
  • All streets starting with Dumaine Street toward Esplanade Avenue will be open to cross Bourbon Street 

Additional intermittent street closures, including Canal Street from Claiborne Avenue to Convention Center Boulevard, might be required as crowd size warrants. Decatur Street from Dumaine Street to St. Louis Street will also be closed to vehicles ahead of the fireworks display on Sunday, Dec. 31 once crowd size warrants. 

Parking Impacts 

NO PARKING ZONES 

Friday, Dec. 29 through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. daily 

  • Both sides of the following streets in the 700-800 blocks between Dauphine Street and Royal Street: 
    • Iberville, Bienville, Conti, St. Louis, Toulouse, St. Peter, Orleans, St. Ann 

Friday, Dec. 29 through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. daily 

  • Both sides of Canal Street from Claiborne Avenue to Convention Center Boulevard 

Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking. Additional parking restrictions may be implemented as necessary. Always follow posted signs. 

  • Do not block hydrants, driveways and sidewalks 
  • Do not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop sign 
  • Park in the direction of travel on one-way streets and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets 

Transportation Impacts & Tips

REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY SERVICE IMPACTS 

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will adjust service along some bus routes and the Algiers Point – Canal Street ferry route due to planned New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day festivities.    

All bus and streetcar routes will operate on the following altered schedules: 

  • Saturday schedule on Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31 
  • Sunday schedule on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2024 and Monday, Jan. 2, 2024
  • Normal bus and streetcar service will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2024

Some bus routes will be on detour due to expected service impacts in downtown New Orleans. Temporary signage will be posted at affected stops along detoured routes informing riders of the specific changes. See details on route changes at norta.com. 

Residents and visitors are encouraged to use alternatives to driving, including RTA public transportation, taxis, transportation network companies (Uber, Lyft) or Blue Bikes.  

Public Safety  

Working with local, state and federal partners, NOPD will have a heavy presence of foot, vehicle and traffic personnel throughout the French Quarter and Downtown areas this holiday weekend to keep residents and visitors safe. NOPD will deploy 223 law enforcement officers in addition to the Eighth District and Special Operations Division, which will operate at full staff. Louisiana State Police will deploy 25 Troopers to assist. 

While adequately staffed for the events, NOPD will maintain staffing in all eight police districts. Officers will also be on the lookout for intoxicated and impaired drivers throughout the city. NOPD urges residents and visitors not to drink and drive. Instead, please use a designated driver or a ride-share service. 

Firing guns to celebrate New Year’s Eve or any holiday is not only extremely dangerous but is prohibited by law and will be strictly enforced. 

The New Orleans Fire Department would like to remind residents and visitors that the use of fireworks is illegal in the City of New Orleans and prohibited by law. There will be a professional fireworks display along the riverfront. Residents and visitors are urged to join in these sanctioned festivities.   

As always, residents and visitors are encouraged to take care in large crowds, be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity to public safety officials.   

 

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