1/8 NEWSBREAK: Double whammy of Biden visit, inauguration to snarl Charleston traffic

Getting through Charleston on Monday isn’t going to be easy as the city welcomes a president and inaugurates a new mayor and six members of city council.

“Commuters, both pedestrians and drivers, should expect major delays,” said Charleston Police spokesman Anthony Gibson in a traffic advisory.

Roads are likely to be impacted from the morning to late afternoon during a visit by President Joe Biden, who is speaking on threats to democracy and freedom about 12:30 p.m. today at Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street. Thirty minutes earlier is the start of the inauguration ceremony for Mayor-elect William Cogswell and six council members at City Hall on Broad Street.

Expect delays on Interstates 26 and 526 as well as the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and downtown streets on the peninsula, Gibson said. As Biden travels to and from the church, there also will be some road closures. During the speech, all pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be closed on Calhoun Street between Meeting and East Bay streets, Gibson said. More details will be provided when they are available.

Traffic around City Hall also will be affected between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for the inauguration ceremonies:

Broad Street between Meeting and Church streets will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meeting Street between Queen and Tradd streets will be closed from 11:15 a.m. until 1 p.m. Traffic will, however, be able to flow north and south on Meeting Street until 11:15 a.m.
Broad Street between King and Meeting streets will be closed from 11:15 a.m. until 1 p.m.

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