Parking and travel in downtown St. Pete is likely to get worse starting today as the city begins preparations for next month’s Firestone Grand Prix.

ST. PETERSBURG – Downtown St. Petersburg  began to take on the look of a street-legal speed zone this morning (Feb. 23)  when construction got underway for the 11th annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The stretch of Bayshore Drive to First Street S and Albert Whitted Park will be affected.  Motorists and pedestrians can expect race-related street closures and detours downtown from Albert Whitted Airport to north of Pioneer Park until approximately April 10. Detours will be in place.  Beach Drive and Central Avenue will remain open during construction and throughout race weekend.

Albert Whitted Park will remain closed to motorized and foot traffic until mid-April. To ensure everyone’s safety, race officials and St. Petersburg police urge residents to obey signs warning against entering closed construction sites.

The Mahaffey Theater, Dali Museum, Al Lang Stadium and Albert Whitted Airport will remain open and accessible to patrons and employees, including the FAA, during the first phases of track construction. Beginning March 23, parking lots at the Mahaffey Theater and Dali will close, tentatively reopening on April 2. Dali Museum parking will relocate to the Dolphin lot from March 23-25 and March 30-April 1 with complimentary shuttle transportation.

Kicking off the 15-race IndyCar Series, the March 27-29 event brings more than 100,000 spectators from around the world to St. Petersburg for three days of fast cars, world-class drivers and plenty of sunshine. Mayor Rick Kriseman and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce are urging residents and business owners to “Embrace the Race” with the sunny hospitality that is a trademark of the Sunshine City.  For information, see stpete.org.

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