Locals anticipate I-10 Jefferson project traffic during Desert Trip

Over 75,000 concertgoers are expected to drive into town for Desert Trip next Friday. The on-going Jefferson St. interchange project has many residents in the Valley anticipating the heavy traffic. Jim Curtis, community services manager for the City of Indio, says traffic on the interchange shouldn’t be as hectic as people are expecting “There’s not going to be a lot of change on the interchange from what it was this past April for our concerts, so we look forward to having nice, smooth traffic,” said Curtis. Sgt. Dan Marshall of the Indio Police Department says there will be one, new road closure during the concert. “Dr. Carreon will be closed between Arabia and Oasis, much like it is for the fair, much like it is for the RV roundup or any RV shows. We’re doing that this year because we moved the Uber and taxi lot off of the venue site and we moved it out to the fair ground. We’re hoping to reduce the amount of traffic that’s in and around the festival area,” Marshall said. Marshall says impacted times can include; “The gates are going to open at 2:00 p.m. so people will start arriving then, but it might be later in the day when everyone starts to show up at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. So we could see some impact around that time. Camping load-in will be on Thursday, Oct. 6/13 and camping opens at 9:00 a.m”. Curtis has been communicating regularly with residents who may be impacted by desert trip traffic. “Some are impacted more than others. Some that are in the hot zone, we call it, which is right behind the stages along Avenue 50 there. We meet with those residents so they can get into their houses, their guests can get into their houses with them and they can get out and have free movement in and out without being too impeded too much by concert goers,” Curtis said. As the final countdown to Desert Trip begins, people here in the valley are ready for the crowds