TIJUANA Authorities released details of the street closures on Saturday in the Río Zone, changes that will affect traffic coming from and to the San Ysidro border crossing.
The closures are to accommodate a free, outdoor festival and concert on Saturday night expected to draw 25,000 people to one of the city's gathering spots.
Just after midnight Friday, the following thoroughfares will be closed: Paseo de los Héroes, from bulevar Cuauhtémoc to calle (street) Manuel Márquez de León; and avenida Independencia, from Paseo Centenario to bulevar Sánchez Taboada.
Paseo de los Héroes is a main route to the border crossing.
This traffic will be diverted to the nearby Sánchez Taboada Boulevard, according to city spokeswoman Miryam Ruiz.
By Friday afternoon, the concert stage had already been set up at the traffic circle known as glorieta Independencia, which has a monument that looks like a pair of scissors, located in front of the Centro Cultural Tijuana.
Access to that area will be limited. On Saturday, people wishing to attend the concert may enter at Puente (bridge) Independencia, where the Palacio Municipal (City Hall) is located, starting at 6 p.m. The concert, by Margarita, "The Goddess of Cumbia," is to begin at 9 p.m.
Officials urged those attending the concert, part of the city's 122nd anniversary celebration, to carpool or to take public transportation. Parking will be available at public lots near the concert, in Plaza Río, Palacio Municipal, and commercial and residential areas.
In addition to the concert, the city's professional soccer team, the Xoloitzcuintles, will open their season a Caliente Stadium, also in Río Zone. The 5 p.m. match, against Monarcas de Morelia, is expected to draw at least 16,000 fans.
Officials will have a combined force of 400 police officers, firefighters, Red Cross and other emergency personnel on hand to safeguard the area.
