NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans has announced parking instructions and traffic restrictions in advance of the Allstate Sugar Bowl events and the 2018 New Year’s Eve celebration. Throughout these events, the public is encouraged to be patient and prepared for delays. Motorists should be prepared for heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic as security measures are being increased.
Additional Security Measures:
- Beginning with New Year’s Eve and Sugar Bowl preparedness, the City will increase security measures throughout the French Quarter and other sensitive target areas in the City.
- 29 light towers throughout the French Quarter and Downtown Development District
- Temporary security cameras
- Four law enforcement sky towers
- Full complement of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and Louisiana State Police personnel with NOPD working traffic control, walking beats, patrolling the area, and monitoring French Quarter closures
- Bourbon Street Rapid Response Team working along with K9 units guarding Bourbon Street and other areas of interest.
Friday, Dec. 29
Starting Friday, Dec. 29 through Tuesday, Jan. 2, extra NOPD officers will be deployed to the French Quarter and the Central Business District beginning at 3 p.m. daily with additional officers coming on throughout the evenings. From Friday, Dec. 29 through Tuesday, Jan. 2, parking will not be permitted from 12 p.m. – 6 a.m. in the 700 and 800 blocks between Dauphine Street and Royal Street on both sides of the following streets:
- Iberville Street
- Bienville Street
- Conti Street
- St. Louis Street
- Toulouse Street
- St. Peter Street
- Orleans Street
- St. Ann Street
- Both sides of Canal Street from Claiborne Avenue to Convention Center Boulevard.
Starting Friday, Dec. 29, starting at 8 p.m. and ending Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4 a.m., there will be a hard (interior) closure of all streets leading to Bourbon Street from Royal to Dauphine Streets. Vehicles will not be able to cross Bourbon Street, and will be detoured at all points along Dauphine and Royal Streets. Bollards are positioned so that cars may enter to the last driveway or parking garage in the block before Bourbon Street. Only taxis, TNCs, limos, hotel guests, and vehicles needing to access their businesses and residences will be allowed to cross Bourbon Street.
Saturday, Dec. 30
- Starting Saturday, Dec. 30 through Monday, Jan. 1 from 8 p.m. – 4 a.m., NOPD will implement a soft (exterior) closure of the French Quarter. Exterior streets are all streets leading into the French Quarter on Canal, Decatur, N. Rampart and Dumaine Streets.
- Entry to the French Quarter from Canal Street, Decatur Street, Dumaine but Bourbon Street will be a pedestrian mall.
- Large trucks, busses and vans may be made to detour out of the area and only access the French Quarter on exterior streets. Exterior streets are all streets leading into the French Quarter on Canal, Decatur, N. Rampart and Dumaine Streets.
- On Saturday, Dec. 30, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Fan Fest, located at Jackson Square and the Jax Brewery parking lot off Decatur Street, will begin at noon and last through Sunday, Dec. 31 at 12 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 31
On Sunday, Dec. 31 at 2:30 p.m., the Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade will begin at Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street, proceed down Decatur Street, past Jackson Square and the Allstate Fan Fest, disbanding at Canal Street. Street closures will start at approximately 2 p.m. and will include N. Peters Street from Canal to Conti Streets and from Dumaine Street to Elysian Fields Avenue, and Decatur Street from Conti to Dumaine Streets.
NOPD officers will monitor the pedestrian crowd and will divert vehicular traffic from Decatur and S. Peters Street, between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue, as needed based on pedestrian traffic. Heavy trucks and bollards will be used to enhance the closure of Decatur Street for the protection of pedestrians. NOPD anticipates a large pedestrian crowd and encourages drivers to avoid this area. On December 31 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., parking will not be permitted at the following locations:
- N. Peters Street from Esplanade Avenue to Dumaine Street
- Elysian Fields (uptown side only from Burgundy to N. Peters Streets
- Decatur Street from Dumaine to St. Phillip Streets
Sunday, Dec. 31
Starting on December 31 at 10 a.m. and ending on January 1 at 4 a.m., parking will not be permitted at the following locations:
- Decatur Street from Dumaine to Conti Streets
- N. Peters Street (both sides) from Conti to Canal Streets
Monday, Jan. 1
On Monday, Jan. 1, for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, NOPD officers will be monitoring pedestrian crowds in the French Quarter and will divert vehicular traffic if necessary. NOPD will regulate traffic around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome starting approximately one hour before the start of the 7:45 p.m. game.
In addition, RTA services including bus service may be interrupted during these event. Details on any route changes are available at www.norta.com.