Getting There: Prepare for Downtown road closures amid tons of weekend events
Welcome back to Getting There, The Dispatch's new weekly column for all things driving, traffic and commuting.
It's going to be a doozy of a weekend trying to get around downtown Columbus. There's the 2025 Stonewall Columbus Pride March. There's the All Out Music Festival. There's a Columbus Crew home game.
Jun 15, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Police dialogue team members talk with Palestinian protesters who blocked the parade route for about 20 minutes during the annual Stonewall Pride March through downtown Columbus and the Short North June 15, 2024. One of the protesters read a lengthy statement and then the group moved out of the street. The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Live out Loud,” and it marks the 43rd year of Stonewall Columbus hosting citywide Pride celebrations
With all this happening, if you plan to drive in Downtown this weekend I have one thing to say to you: Good luck and godspeed.
Read on for information on which streets will be closed for the weekend's events and which Columbus highways will face closures or restrictions.
But first, a small dose of "car-mic" justice.
Columbus Driving Hall of Shame
Occasionally on Getting There, we will highlight wacky traffic incidents and mayhem caused by local drivers making poor decisions.
This week, we have a video from the Columbus subreddit of a speeding vehicle weaving in and out of traffic and driving on a highway shoulder to speed past other vehicles.
For the record, highway shoulders are not fun bonus lanes to be taken only by the boldest and bravest of drivers. Highway shoulders are for car breakdowns, emergency stops and emergency vehicles.
Shoulders are also likely covered in road debris and rocks, meaning driving on them will probably land you with a punctured tire. Remember to stay in your lane, Columbus.
Downtown Columbus closures for the weekend
The following roads in downtown Columbus will be closed from 8 a.m. on June 14 until cleanup of the Stonewall Columbus Pride March is done, according to the City of Columbus.
- High Street between Buttles Avenue and Rich Street
- Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue
- Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street
- Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street
- High Street between Main Street and Broad Street
- Rich Street between Third Street and Front Street
- Town Street between High Street and Front Street
- State Street between Third Street and Front Street
What roads will be closed for the Pride Festival?
The following roads will be closed starting mid-afternoon on June 13 until after the festival ends on June 14.
- Dennison Avenue between Goodale Street and Buttles Avenue
- Park Street between Buttles Avenue and Goodale Street
- Buttles Avenue between Dennison Avenue and High Street
- Russell Street between High Street and Park Street
- Milay Alley between High Street and Park Street
- Poplar Ave between High Street and Park Street
