Heavy traffic expected with Coachella music festival conclusion

Drivers are advised to be prepared for heavy traffic on Sunday evening and Monday after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Around 40,000 campers are expected to depart from the Empire Polo Grounds, filling up surface streets and westbound Interstate 10.

Heavy traffic delays are also expected on eastbound Interstate 10 between Banning and Indio starting Friday with weekend two of the festival beginning.

Caltrans is warning drivers of traffic on the I-10 between Beaumont and Indio or State Route 60 from Moreno Valley to Beaumont for the next three weeks with festival season in full swing with Coachella and Stagecoach.

Caltrans officials suggest planning ahead and avoid the delays by traveling early in the morning or late evenings. They also ask people to designate a sober driver, have a full tank of gas, cell phone and plenty of patience.

To help make traffic smoother within the city, a year-long road project widening Highway 111 in Indio has been suspended until the festival season wraps up April 30.

Follow the Caltrans Quickmap here to check traffic and incidents before you go.