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Made in America 2021: Road closures and transit for the festival

The music festival returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Labor Day weekend. Here are the road closures and detours to the streets of Philadelphia.

Construction for the 2019 Made in America Festival. The 2021 event is this weekend.
Construction for the 2019 Made in America Festival. The 2021 event is this weekend.Read moreANTHONY PEZZOTTI / Staff Photographer

Jay-Z’s Made in America festival returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 4 and 5 after a one-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. With the pandemic still raging, the 2021 festival is requiring proof-of-vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours via the CLEAR health pass app. Additionally, masks must be worn throughout the festival unless you’re eating or drinking.

Beyond the COVID-19 precautions, the Made in America festival will return in its regular form, with headliners Lil Baby (Saturday) and Justin Bieber (Sunday) performing on the main stage, a solid lineup of more than 30 additional performers including Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Roddy Rich, Kehlani, A$AP Ferg, and Young Thug.

» READ MORE: Your complete 2021 Made in America guide

The festival also brings road closures and detours to Philadelphia, particularly around the festival grounds on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Preparation for the festival — is already underway and affecting travel. Here’s what you should know about road closures, parking restrictions, and public transit ahead of the extravaganza.

Road closures and parking restrictions

These closures began Sunday, Aug. 29, and remain until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7:

  1. Two lanes of Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

These closures began Monday, Aug. 30, and remain until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7:

  1. Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

These closures began Tuesday, Aug. 31 and remain until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7:

  1. No parking on 22nd Street from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the west side of Pennsylvania Avenue.

  2. No parking at Park Towne Place from 22nd Street to 24th Street on the north side.

» READ MORE: Philly’s best post-Made in America bars

These closures began Wednesday, Sept. 1, and remain until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7:

  1. Inner lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Eakins Oval.

  2. Note that the outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will remain open on Wednesday, Sept. 1 and cross traffic on numbered streets will be permitted.

These closures begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2, and remain until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7:

  1. Outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 22nd and 23rd Streets, eastbound lanes only.

  2. Note that cross traffic on numbered streets will be permitted on Thursday, Sept. 2.

These closures begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, and remain until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7:

  1. Outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and Eakins Oval.

  2. 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

  3. 22nd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Park Towne Place.

  4. 21st Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Winter Street.

  5. Kelly Drive outbound from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Fairmount Avenue.

  6. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from Sweetbriar Drive to Eakins Oval.

  7. Because of the closure of the outer lanes of the Ben Franklin Parkway, the City of Philadelphia announced these detours starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3: 1) Traffic headed inbound (to Center City) from Spring Garden Street Bridge or Martin Luther King Drive must exit Eakins Oval on the 24th Street ramp. 2) Traffic headed inbound on Kelly Drive must exit Kelly Drive at Fairmount Avenue. 3) Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive will remain open for employees and guests of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and will be accessible via 25th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

These closures begin at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, and remain until 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 6:

  1. The entire Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Eakins Oval to 25th Street.

  2. 21st Street between Winter and Hamilton Streets.

  3. 22nd Street between Winter and Spring Garden Streets.

  4. 23rd Street between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue.

  5. The Spring Garden Street tunnel.

  6. The Spring Garden Street bridge will remain open when possible during the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s operating hours, but will close during times of heavy foot traffic.

  7. Kelly Drive between Fairmount Avenue and Eakins Oval.

  8. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between Falls Bridge and Eakins Oval.

  9. 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, (between Whole Foods and 21st Street); the eastern half of the block will remain open for Whole Foods shoppers.

  10. I-676 westbound off-ramp at 22nd Street; the I-676 eastbound off-ramp at 23rd Street will remain open.

  11. Intermittent closures of 2200-2400 Pennsylvania Avenue should be expected on Saturday, Sept. 4, and Sunday, Sept. 5.

No parking

The majority of parking restrictions begin at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 and remain until 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 6. In select, less high-impact areas, parking will be restricted until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

  1. Pennsylvania Avenue between 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue (south side).

  2. Winter Street between 20th and 22nd Streets (both sides of street).

  3. 20th Street between Vine and Callowhill Streets (east side).

  4. 21st Street between the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Race Street (both sides)

  5. 22nd Street between Winter and Spring Garden Streets (both sides).

  6. Park Towne Place between 22nd and 24th Streets (both sides).

  7. Spring Garden Street between 22nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

  8. Race Street between 19th and 20th Streets.

SEPTA

SEPTA subway service will operate on a normal weekend schedule, including Saturday overnight service, throughout the weekend. The Broad Street and Market Frankford Owl buses will offer normal overnight service.

SEPTA will run additional trains on select lines, including the Chestnut Hill East line, the Fox Chase line, and the Trenton line, from Jefferson, Suburban, and 30th Street Stations. Additionally, several lines will operate later than normal. See the SEPTA website for more information on expanded and late-night regional rail service on Sept. 4 and 5.

Taxis and ride share

Designated drop-off and pickup locations for taxis, Uber, and Lyft are along the 2100 block of Spring Garden Street.

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