Avoid these roads in Tampa Bay during the Republican National Convention Aug. 26-30

(Tampa) – The 2012 Republican National Convention (RNC) will be held in Tampa, Fla. from 

Aug. 26-30, 2012. The event has been designated as a National Special Security Event by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Security and transportation plans for the convention and its events have been developed by a 

partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies. Every effort has been made to minimize the impact of these safety measures.   

This plan provides the general outlines for road closures, vehicular and pedestrian restricted zones and public transportation. Specific questions regarding this transportation plan should be directed to the participating agencies as identified. 

In addition to the identified road closures and parking restrictions near event venues in St. Petersburg and Tampa, there will be intermittent traffic delays and temporary closures on interstate roads and throughout the area beginning on Saturday, August, 25, until Thursday, August 30, to allow motorcades to travel to and from event sites.  

Road Closures, Parking and Pedestrian Restrictions  

Road closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transportation routes and public works 

services will be necessary during the 2012 Republican National Convention near Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Times Forum and the Tampa Convention Center. The public’s 

cooperation and patience in abiding by these restrictions is appreciated.  

Parking restricted areas will be posted with “Emergency No Parking” signage.  Fencing, other 

physical barriers and uniformed law enforcement officers will also be utilized to enforce vehicle and pedestrian restricted zones.  Maps of the restricted areas in St. Petersburg and Tampa are attached. 

St. Petersburg Parking Restrictions and Road Closures  

In St. Petersburg, parking restrictions will be implemented beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012. The following areas will have parking restrictions in place until 2 a.m., Friday, August 31: 

• North and south sides of 5th Avenue Northeast, between Beach Drive Northeast and the 

Vinoy Hotel Garage  

• East and west sides of Bayshore Boulevard Northeast from 5th Avenue Northeast south to the 

first pedestrian crosswalk 

• East and west sides of Beach Drive Northeast between 6th Avenue Northeast and 7th Avenue 

Northeast 

• North and south sides of 7th Avenue Northeast between Beach Drive Northeast and North 

Shore Drive Northeast 

• North side of 4th Avenue South between 1st Street and 2nd Street 

• East and west sides of 1st Street South between Al Lang Field entrance (100 block) and 4th 

Avenue South 

• East side of 2nd Street South between 2nd Avenue South and 4th Avenue South 

• East and west sides of 4th Street North between 3rd Avenue North and 4th Avenue North 

• South side of 3rd Avenue North from 4th Street west to the property line of Courtyard St. 

Petersburg Hotel 

• North and south sides of Delmar Terrace South between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr. Street 

Parking on the following streets will be restricted beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, August 24, through     

6 a.m., Monday, August 27:  

• All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North 

• East and west sides of 5th Street North between 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North 

• North and south sides of 2nd Avenue North between Mirror Lake Drive and Dr. Martin 

Luther King, Jr. Street 

• East and west sides of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street between Burlington Avenue North 

and 5th Avenue South 

• North and south sides of 3rd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street 

• North and south sides of 4th Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street 

• North and south sides of 5th Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street 

• North and south sides of Stadium Drive between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th 

Street 

• North and south sides of 7th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 

16th Street 

• North and south sides of 1st Avenue North between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Street 

• North and south sides of 1st Avenue North between 11th Street and 16th Street 

North and south sides of 2nd Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street 

• North and south sides of Baum Avenue North from 13th Street east to the property located at 

1210 1st Avenue North  

• North and south sides of Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street 

• North and south sides of the Alley north of Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 

14th Street 

• North and south sides of 1st Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street 

• North and south sides of 2nd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street 

• North and south sides of the Alley north of 2nd Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr. Street and 10th Street 

• East and west sides of 10th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue South 

• East and west sides of 13th Street North between 1st Avenue South and 2nd Avenue North 

• East and west sides of 14th Street North between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue 

North 

• North side of Central Avenue between 13th Street and the railroad tracks to the west (1400 

block) 

• East and west sides of 20th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 5th Avenue North 

• East and west sides of 19th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 1st Avenue South 

• North and south sides of 3rd Avenue South between 16th Street and 20th Street 

• East and west sides of 17th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 3rd Avenue South 

• East and west sides of 10th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South 

• East and west sides of 12th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South 

• East and west sides of 14th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South 

• North and south sides of 6th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 

10th Street 

• North and south sides of Blackburn Court South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street 

and 10th Street 

The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, August 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:  

• 1st Avenue North between 11th Street and 16th Street 

• 2nd Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street 

• 4th Avenue South between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street 

• Baum Avenue North from 13th Street east to the property located at 1210 1st Avenue North  

• Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 14th Street 

• Alley north of Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street 

• 13th Street North between 1st Avenue South and Arlington Avenue North 

• 13th Street North between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North (southbound lane 

only) 

• 14th Street North between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North 

• Delmar Terrace South between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street 

The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 4:30 a.m., Sunday, August 26, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27: 

• All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North 

• 5th Street North, between 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North 

2nd Avenue North between Mirror Lake Drive and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street 

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street between Burlington Avenue North and 5th Avenue South 

• 1st Avenue North between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street 

• 1st Avenue South between 8th Street and 18th Street 

• 2nd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street 

• Alley north of 2nd Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street 

• 3rd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street 

• 3rd Avenue South between 16th Street and 19th Street 

• 4th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 19th Street 

• 5th Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street 

• Stadium Drive between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th Street 

• 7th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th Street (westbound lane 

closure only) 

• 10th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue South 

• 16th Street South between Central Avenue and 5th Avenue South  

• 16th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 7th Avenue South (northbound curb lane 

only)  

• 19th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 1st Avenue South 

• 17th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 3rd Avenue South 

• 10th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South 

• 12th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South 

• 14th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South 

• 6th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street 

• Blackburn Court South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street 

The following road will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday, August 26, 

until 6 a.m., Monday, August 27: 

• Bayshore Drive Southeast/Dali Boulevard between 1st Avenue Southeast and 1st Street South 

I-175/South Bay Drive:  Interstate 175/South Bay Drive, including all entrance and exits ramps and pedestrian overpass will be closed on Sunday, August 26, from 2 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. 

Tampa Parking Restrictions and Road Closures 

Beginning Monday, August 27 at 12:30 a.m., Florida 618 Toll (Selmon Expressway) between Willow Avenue and 50th Street will be closed, and will remain closed until Friday, August 31 at 

approximately 5:00 a.m.  The Selmon Reversible Elevated Lanes (REL) will remain OPEN during 

this time to enter downtown Tampa and will operate as normal. 

Street parking will be prohibited beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, August 24, until 5 a.m., Friday, August 31, in the following areas in downtown Tampa, as well at the streets identified below as road closures: 

• South of East Whiting Street between South Ashley Drive to South Jefferson Avenue to Old 

Waters Street and between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard  

• Tampa Street from East Scott Street to East Whiting Street 

• North Jefferson Street from East Cass Street to East Whiting Street 

• Florida Avenue from East Scott Street to East Whiting Street 

East Tyler Street from North Orange Avenue to MacInness Place 

• Cass Street from North Boulevard to Nebraska Avenue 

Additional parking restrictions may be announced.  For additional information, please visit the City of Tampa’s website at http://tampagov.net/RNC for the most current information. 

Road closures will be implemented beginning at noon, Saturday, August 25 until 6 p.m., Friday, 

August 31.  On-street parking is prohibited on the following closed roads: 

• South Ashley Drive:  Southbound from Jackson Street to East Whiting Street 

• South Tampa Street: Southbound from south of East Whiting Street to East Brorein Street 

• South Franklin Street: North and southbound from south of East Whiting Street to Old Waters 

Street 

• South Florida Avenue: Northbound from south of East Whiting Street to Old Waters Street 

• South Morgan Street: North and southbound from south of East Whiting Street to Old Waters 

Street 

• South Jefferson Street: North and southbound from south of East Whiting Street to 

Channelside Drive 

• South Nebraska Avenue: North and southbound from south of Finley Street to Channelside 

Drive 

• South Caesar Street: North and southbound from south of Finley Street to Channelside Drive 

• East Cumberland and East Bell Streets: East and westbound between S. Florida Avenue to 

South Morgan Street and South Jefferson Street 

• East Walton Street: East and westbound  between South Nebraska Avenue to South Caesar 

Street 

• Eunice Street:  East and westbound between South Morgan Street to Nebraska Avenue 

• East Brorein Street:  Westbound between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard 

• Channelside Drive:  East and westbound between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore 

Boulevard, to include the Platt Street Bridge 

• Old Water Street: East and westbound between South Franklin Street to Channelside Drive 

• South Franklin Street / Harbour Island Bridge: North and southbound between Old Waters 

Street to Westin Hotel Circle Drive 

• Bayshore Boulevard: Northbound between West Swann Avenue to West Platt Street.  The 

Davis Island northbound ramp from Bayshore will be open.  

• Tampa Bay Boulevard (Tom McEwen Boulevard): East and westbound between North Dale 

Mabry Highway to North Himes Avenue will be closed from 8 a.m., Saturday, August 25, to 

8 a.m., Friday, August 31 

The City of Tampa has identified streets that will be part of the official parade route and viewing area and will be closed to general traffic.  For more information on these areas, please visit the city’s website at http://tampagov.net/RNC.