Several streets around the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center are closed Tuesday for President Donald Trump's rally, and the city expects extremely congested traffic. Mahon Library, Silent Wings Museum and Civic Center offices are closed for the day. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., and parking and foot traffic in the area end at 4 p.m.
Road closures
Closures began at 10 p.m. Monday and are to be in place by 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the City of Lubbock:
Mac Davis Lane: closed from Avenue O to Avenue L
9th Street: closed from Avenue O to Avenue L
Avenue O: closed from Mac Davis Lane to 9th Street, with one entrance at 8th Street
The public entrance is the Civic Center's main west-side entrance, off 8th Street. The city encourages residents to use ride-share services.
Parking and walking
Vehicles left in the Civic Center parking lot after 10 p.m. Monday were subject to towing. The city says owners will not be charged to have vehicles returned, but its notice gives conflicting weekday and date information for their return.
All vehicle parking and pedestrian traffic in the area ends at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Pedestrians may not cut across the Civic Center parking lot and must walk the perimeter to reach the west entrance, no matter where they parked.
City facilities closed Tuesday
Mahon Library: closed; other library branches keep normal hours
Silent Wings Museum: closed
Civic Center administrative offices: closed
All three reopen with regular hours Wednesday morning.
Security
The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction covering 10 nautical miles around the Civic Center from sunup to sundown, which applies to drones. A designated protest area is in the MCM Elegante parking lot, 801 Avenue Q. Lubbock County Sheriff's Office personnel will staff a mobile booking location near MCM Elegante for anyone who becomes disruptive.
Trump is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m. Attendees go through Secret Service screening, and items such as bags, signs, aerosols and drones may be prohibited.
