As Grants Pass prepares for another Boatnik weekend, city officials are warning residents and visitors to expect significant traffic disruptions, bridge closures, parking restrictions, and limited river access beginning Thursday and continuing through Memorial Day Monday.
The annual Boatnik festival officially opens Thursday at 2 p.m. inside Riverside Park and is expected to draw large crowds throughout the holiday weekend. With thousands of attendees anticipated for races, concerts, vendors, and the annual parade, city officials are encouraging travelers to plan routes early and allow additional travel time around downtown Grants Pass and the Rogue River corridor.
Parking and vehicle congestion are expected to increase substantially near Riverside Park, East Park Street, Sixth Street, and the Caveman Bridge area. Officials are encouraging festivalgoers to utilize the Frog Parking lot at 160 Redwood Highway near the corner of West Park and Sixth streets, where parking remains free during the event.
One of the largest impacts to traffic will occur Saturday during the Boatnik Parade. Sixth Street will close to all regular vehicle traffic between “A” Street and the Rogue River beginning at 8 a.m. and is expected to remain closed until approximately 1 p.m. Only authorized parade participants will be allowed access during the closure period.
Traffic traveling southbound toward the river during parade hours will be rerouted from Sixth Street at “A” Street toward Beacon Drive and then onto the Grants Pass Parkway. Drivers attempting to cross the Rogue River are being advised to use the Grants Pass Parkway Bridge or the Seventh Street Bridge, which will operate northbound only during portions of the closure.
The Sixth Street Bridge, commonly known as the Caveman Bridge, will also close to all vehicle traffic during parade operations from 8 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. Saturday. Residents living south of the river or travelers heading toward Redwood Highway and nearby communities are being encouraged to leave earlier than normal due to anticipated delays and congestion.
Additional parking restrictions will begin late Friday night. No parking will be permitted on Sixth Street between “A” Street and the Caveman Bridge, or along Voorhies Way between Sixth and Seventh streets, beginning at midnight Friday and continuing until after the parade concludes Saturday afternoon.
City officials are also asking parade spectators to remain immediately adjacent to curbside parking stalls along the route in order to maintain safe viewing conditions and keep pedestrian traffic out of the roadway. Organizers are discouraging residents from bringing dogs along the parade route due to crowd size, loud noise, and heavy activity levels.
Beyond the downtown corridor, several changes will affect park and river access throughout the weekend. East Park Street will close to most vehicle traffic beginning Friday at 7 a.m. and will remain restricted through Monday evening at 9 p.m. Only vehicles displaying authorized Boatnik parking permits or disabled parking placards will be allowed entry through the Parkway entrance.
Baker Park will also close to general vehicle traffic and boat launching activities beginning Friday at 5 p.m. The closure will remain in place until Monday at 3 p.m.
River restrictions connected to the Boatnik races are expected to impact recreational users throughout the weekend as well. During official race periods, sections of the Rogue River will close entirely to public watercraft between Baker Park and the Sixth Street Bridge, with an expanded closure area extending to Robertson Bridge on Monday afternoon.
Law enforcement, rescue personnel, and authorized race officials will be the only vessels permitted on the water during active closures. Officials say private boaters are prohibited from assisting with rescue operations for safety reasons and that unauthorized activity on the water could result in citations for reckless or unsafe boating operations carrying fines up to $440 under Oregon boating laws.
Spectators are also being instructed to remain at least 50 feet from the active waterway during race operations. Boats may only anchor along shorelines in approved locations determined safe by race officials and law enforcement personnel.
The scheduled river closures are as follows:
Friday, May 22: 6 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. from Baker Park to the Sixth Street Bridge.
Saturday, May 23: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Baker Park to the Sixth Street Bridge.
Sunday, May 24: 11 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. from Baker Park to the Sixth Street Bridge.
Monday, May 25: 9 a.m. to noon from Baker Park to the Sixth Street Bridge, followed by noon to 3 p.m. from Baker Park to Robertson Bridge.
City officials are encouraging residents and travelers to prepare ahead, remain patient during periods of congestion, and follow posted detours and public safety instructions throughout the holiday weekend.