Police talk traffic amid busy air show & bike rally weekend in Panama City Beach
By Jamilka Gibson
Published: Apr. 29, 2024
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Beach is gearing up for a busy weekend.
Preparations are set for the Thunder Beach Spring Bike Rally and the Gulf Coast Salute Air Show.
The Panama City Beach Police Department said both events would bring in tons of people and a lot of traffic.
“Traffic within the city will be extremely heavy,” said Panama City Beach Police Department Community Outreach Program member Tommy Anderson. “We’ll have plenty of police officers out to ensure everybody is safe and having a good time just expect delays in traffic, please be patient, and follow the rules of the road.”
Gulf Coast Salute Air Show will run from May 3-5 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Russell Fields City Pier. Friday will be a rehearsal to air show standards.
Viewing for the airshow is on the sandy portion of the beach at the city pier near State Road 79 to Gulf Boulevard. Seating is on the sand. Towel and folder chairs are recommended.
A few additional rules will be in effect due to the planes that will take flight including road closures. Front Beach Road will be closed from Powell Adams Road to just west of West Park Drive during all three days of the air show from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pier Park Drive, L.C. Hilton Drive, and West Park Drive inside Pier Park will also be closed for the entire event. There is no overnight parking at Aaron Bessant or Pier Park.
Police will be on Panama City Beach Parkway at Pier Park Drive and Powell Adams Road intersection to assist pedestrians with road crossing. All pedestrians must use a crosswalk to get to the airshow.
Parking for the show will be available on the grassy fields behind Aaron Bessant Park at no cost. The lot opens at 6 a.m.
Drivers are not to park within 20 feet of any intersection, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on sidewalks or crosswalks, on bike paths, or in construction zones.
Thunder Beach Spring Bike Rally will be at the same time as the air show meaning there will be traffic delays and congestion at major intersections including Nautilus Street, Guld Boulevard, Hills Road, Powell Adams Road, and Pier Park Drive.
According to Panama City Beach Police, parking lot capacity, traffic conditions, and other updates will be provided through media partners, the city’s social media pages, and the Alert Bay app. Electronic message signs will be installed at multiple intersections including State Road 79, Phillip Griffitts Sr. Parkway, at PCB Parkway east of Hills Road, Front Beach Road at Winn Dixie, and Front Beach at the All American Diner. To sign up for updates text “PCBairshow” to 888777.
www.wjhg.com
By Jamilka Gibson
Published: Apr. 29, 2024
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Panama City Beach is gearing up for a busy weekend.
Preparations are set for the Thunder Beach Spring Bike Rally and the Gulf Coast Salute Air Show.
The Panama City Beach Police Department said both events would bring in tons of people and a lot of traffic.
“Traffic within the city will be extremely heavy,” said Panama City Beach Police Department Community Outreach Program member Tommy Anderson. “We’ll have plenty of police officers out to ensure everybody is safe and having a good time just expect delays in traffic, please be patient, and follow the rules of the road.”
Gulf Coast Salute Air Show will run from May 3-5 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Russell Fields City Pier. Friday will be a rehearsal to air show standards.
Viewing for the airshow is on the sandy portion of the beach at the city pier near State Road 79 to Gulf Boulevard. Seating is on the sand. Towel and folder chairs are recommended.
A few additional rules will be in effect due to the planes that will take flight including road closures. Front Beach Road will be closed from Powell Adams Road to just west of West Park Drive during all three days of the air show from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pier Park Drive, L.C. Hilton Drive, and West Park Drive inside Pier Park will also be closed for the entire event. There is no overnight parking at Aaron Bessant or Pier Park.
Police will be on Panama City Beach Parkway at Pier Park Drive and Powell Adams Road intersection to assist pedestrians with road crossing. All pedestrians must use a crosswalk to get to the airshow.
Parking for the show will be available on the grassy fields behind Aaron Bessant Park at no cost. The lot opens at 6 a.m.
Drivers are not to park within 20 feet of any intersection, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on sidewalks or crosswalks, on bike paths, or in construction zones.
Thunder Beach Spring Bike Rally will be at the same time as the air show meaning there will be traffic delays and congestion at major intersections including Nautilus Street, Guld Boulevard, Hills Road, Powell Adams Road, and Pier Park Drive.
According to Panama City Beach Police, parking lot capacity, traffic conditions, and other updates will be provided through media partners, the city’s social media pages, and the Alert Bay app. Electronic message signs will be installed at multiple intersections including State Road 79, Phillip Griffitts Sr. Parkway, at PCB Parkway east of Hills Road, Front Beach Road at Winn Dixie, and Front Beach at the All American Diner. To sign up for updates text “PCBairshow” to 888777.
Police talk traffic amid busy air show & bike rally weekend in Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach expecting traffic ahead of Gulf Coast Salute Air Show and Thunder Beach Spring Bike Rally.
