Philadelphia Traffic, Road Closures Expected for Presidential Debate

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will head to Philadelphia tonight to engage in their first presidential debate before Election Day.

The debate will take place in Center City at the National Constitution Center, which has been barricades ahead of tonight’s event, which is set to begin at 9 p.m.

Philadelphia police will deploy a “significant number of resources” in Center City around the National Constitution Center to manage crowds and traffic, city officials said. Officers will also be responsible for maintaining order as police anticipate protests ahead of the debate.

Here’s everything you need to know about the debate, the impact on traffic and more.

» READ MORE: Live Coverage of the Philadelphia Debate: Harris and Trump Prepare for Today’s Showdown

When will the presidential debate take place?

The presidential debate between Harris and Trump will take place at the National Constitution Center in Center City Philadelphia. It will begin at 9:00 p.m. and last about an hour and a half.

The debate will be hosted by ABC News and moderated by World news tonight presenter David Muir and World news on Sunday evening presenter Linsey Davis. It will also air on every major broadcast network and news channel and be streamed on multiple platforms.

The last time Philadelphia hosted a presidential debate was in 1976, when President Gerald R. Ford faced Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter at the Walnut Street Theatre, which is perhaps best remembered for its 27 minutes of silence caused by a technical problem.

Philadelphia was also the site of the 2008 Democratic primary debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. That debate, like today’s event, was held at the National Constitution Center.

Philadelphia Traffic Impacts You Need to Know About the Presidential Debate

If you’re concerned about traffic around the National Constitution Center on Tuesday evening, it’s probably best to just avoid the area.

As with any visit by Harris or Trump, sections of I-95 and I-676 to and from Philadelphia International Airport will be closed on the way to Center City and overdue in the evening.

The eastbound lanes on the Ben Franklin Bridge from I-676 to New Jersey will be closed after rush hour at night for the duration of the debate. The westbound lanes to Philadelphia are to remain open, but officials said they could close the highway if necessary.

In addition to the debate, the Phillies will host the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park at 6:40 p.m., which means there will be more cars on the roads Tuesday night.

“Difficulties on nearby roads should be expected,” city officials said.

Road Closures in Philadelphia

The following roads will be closed until the event area is cleared, which is expected on Wednesday:

The debate will also impact SEPTA

Road closures in the downtown area will also impact several SEPTA bus routes on Tuesday.

The agency said buses will be skipping the Market Street stops from 5th Street to 7th Street in both directions due to barricades blocking the sidewalks.

In addition, several SEPTA bus routes will be rerouted from their normal routes starting Tuesday morning. SEPTA has a full list of bus diversions on its website.

The Market-Frankford Line will continue to stop at 5th Street Station, but the westbound side will be closed during the day on Tuesday.