The city of La Quinta plays host to both the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival later this month.
The Coachella Music Festival will run April 21-23 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Following quickly at the same club is the Stagecoach Country Music Festival set for April 28-30.
Despite efforts to curb congestion, motorists can expect extra traffic will be inevitable, leading the city of La Quinta to release a list of roads to avoid. In addition to listing roads that will be closed, the release also provides alternative routes.
"Expect significant impact to traffic at the following locations," according to the release from La Quinta, one of nine cities comprising the Coachella Valley.
Allow extra time due to congestion when in Jefferson, Washington and Monroe streets, southbound, from Interstate Highway 10 to Avenue 52, Avenue 48 between Jefferson and Jackson, state Highway 111 at both Jefferson and Monroe streets; and the I-10 exit eastbound at Jefferson, Monroe and Washington.
Since the festivals kick off on Fridays, look for more traffic hotspots coinciding with the weekend.
On each Friday through Monday of the festivals, drivers are warned in the release about the following road closures, Avenue 49 between Hjorth and Monroe streets; Avenue 50 between Madison and Jackson streets, Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50, Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52.
According to the city of La Quinta, the area of Avenue 50 between Madison and Monroe streets will see intermittent closures and related traffic delays. Full closures between Madison and Monroe are expected during the second week of Coachella (April 21-23) and during Stagecoach (April 28-30). But a return to normal street activity is expected May 5.
In addition to concertgoers clogging roads, there will be traffic from more than 40,000 campers exiting the area each Monday after the festivals, the city said. This activity will impact even streets surrounding the music venue sites.
To get to work and the grocery store without a major headache, La Quinta has mapped out alternative routes for festival season. When heading north and south, consider using Golf Center Parkway and Washington, Jackson and Calhoun streets. Advisable for east and west travel are state Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54.
For Uber locations, the city recommends using Avenue 49 and Monroe Street on the southwest corner, but the drop-off/pickup point for friends, family and taxis is at Avenue 52 and Madison Street on the northeast corner.
To keep things running smoothly, rules also will apply to pedestrians and festival goers who will be banned from Monroe Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52 as well as Madison Street between Avenue 50 and Avenue 52.
Those on foot will find access at the corner of Avenue 49 and Monroe Street, at the corner of Avenue 52 and Madison Street, and Avenue 52 and Monroe, the release said.
There will be no access for golf carts on any of the streets mentioned.
As part of a plan to reduce traffic, there will be a shuttle service during the festivals. Heavy demand is expected from approximately 40,000 guests, who will be transported into and out of the venue.
Besides traffic, residents will face noise from the festival, which could start each Thursday due to pre-concert sound checks and camping activity.
La Quinta also provides contact information for those with logistics questions or problems as follows: 760-391-4112 or concertinfo@indio.org.