Savannah will close several downtown streets this weekend and add police coverage as officials prepare for large crowds in the City Market area during Crush Reloaded, the event formerly known as Orange Crush and scheduled for nearby Tybee Island.
City leaders have designated April 17-19 as a Major Special Event, a move that allows for an increased law enforcement presence and additional crowd management measures. The city said the closures will run from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday into Saturday and again from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday into Sunday, with several streets posted as no-parking zones from noon Friday through 4 a.m. Sunday.
Vehicles left in restricted areas could be towed, and the Ellis Square/Barnard Street exit of the Whitaker Street Garage will be closed during the same hours as the street closures. Johnson Square will serve as the designated rideshare pickup and drop-off location from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday, giving drivers and riders a single point of access while downtown traffic is limited.
Police said officers will be stationed in the area and may allow some drivers to leave barricaded streets before towing begins. That leaves a narrow window for people already parked inside the restricted zone, but it also makes clear the city is preparing to move quickly if streets fill up. Officials are urging residents and visitors to expect traffic delays, plan ahead and allow extra travel time downtown throughout the weekend.
The measures show Savannah is treating Crush Reloaded as more than a beach event on Tybee Island. Even though the gathering is scheduled for nearby Tybee Island, city leaders expect some visitors to come downtown too, and they are setting up controls now to keep the City Market area moving through Sunday morning.