SPARTA, Ky. – Kentucky State Police (KSP) outlined its parking and traffic management plan for Kentucky Speedway’s June 28-30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” weekend during a news conference today.
The plan will make full use of infrastructure projects completed by the State of Kentucky, Kentucky Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, Inc., that widened the Interstate 71 exit ramp to Kentucky Highway 35 to three lanes, expanded Ky. Hwy. 35 to seven lanes, yielded parking for an estimated 20,000 additional vehicles and constructed a pedestrian tunnel which connects 170 acres of new Ford Parking to the original speedway property.
Captain Dean Hayes, Trooper Brad Arterburn, Trooper Michael Webb presented the plan which calls for KSP to control all parking operations, station a trooper in each parking lot and direct 300 attendants employed by a new parking service contracted by Kentucky Speedway.
KSP will additionally manage “Quaker State 400” traffic by establishing a contraflow lane on northbound I-71 which will allow non-event traffic traveling southbound to safely bypass the speedway and decrease the potential for delays. State police will additionally divert as much commercial traffic as possible from I-71 to Interstate 64 and Interstate 75 with highway signage.
Speedway guests traveling southbound on I-71 will be directed to Exit 57 where police will utilize cones, signs and six lanes of Ky. Hwy. 35 to funnel traffic into new Ford Parking areas created on 170 acres of land just east of the speedway as well as lots accessible from Kentucky Speedway Entrance 3. Traffic traveling northbound on I-71 will access new and original Kentucky Speedway parking lots via I-71 Exit 55, state Route 1039 and the venue’s Speedway Blvd.
All traffic entering the venue from access roads will be parked simultaneously.
“Each car will be directed to a specific location in each parking lot. Our goal is to keep a constant vehicular movement in each open parking lot. Our team is committed to getting this right and we will,” Hayes said.
KSP and Kentucky Speedway will utilize a media mix of local outlets, roadside message boards, Facebook and Twitter to provide fans traffic updates every 30 minutes or as necessary on “Quaker State 400” race day.
Fans will be able follow @kystatepolice and @KySpeedway on Twitter along with finding “Kentucky State Police” and “Kentucky Speedway” on Facebook. Fans within five miles of the track can tune to information radio 1620 AM.
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[/media-credit]Following the “Quaker State 400,” exterior traffic will be held 30 minutes to allow pedestrians to safely return to their vehicles. Infield traffic will be held 90 minutes to reduce congestion.
KSP encourages “Quaker State 400” guests to leave early to avoid delays; be conscious that delays are possible as is the case with any major public or sporting event; exercise patience; avoid aggressive driving habits; maintain awareness of thousands of pedestrians near the speedway; and use extra caution when returning home.
The “Quaker State 400” anchors the upcoming event weekend that opens Thursday, June 28 with the Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” and continues Friday, June 29 with the Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300.”
Tickets, campsites and daily infield Fan Zone passes for all events can be purchased by logging on to http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/tickets, calling 859-578-2300 or visiting the Kentucky Speedway corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, Ky., 41086 just off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and the newly-expanded, seven-lane Kentucky Highway 35.
