Road Closures in Worcester for the St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Worcester Police Department (WPD) said on Friday that preparations are underway, including traffic closures, for the Worcester County St. Patrick's Parade and Guinness Celtic 5K road race on March 13.

From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., police encourage vehicles to utilize Mill Street for southbound traffic and Main Street for northbound traffic, while avoiding Park Avenue.

The road race starts in Elm Park at 11 a.m., while the procession begins at noon and runs nearly two miles along Park Avenue.

Following are the road closures that have been announced:

• From Highland Street to Elm Street, Park Avenue is blocked at 6 a.m.

• Elm Street was closed from Russell Street to Park Avenue around 10 a.m.

• Travelers on Park Avenue will be detoured around Elm Street in the hours leading up to the event, which begins at 11 a.m.

Throughout the day, traffic movement on Pleasant Street, Chandler Street, and other streets that intersect Park Avenue will be intermittent. It's best to stay away from the region.

The Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and the Worcester Police Department (WPD) are working together on parade security. Before and throughout the event, MSP bomb and explosive detection K9 units and their handlers will be on hand to help.

The parade, according to the WPD statement, is a family-friendly event. The parade route will be patrolled by both undercover and uniformed cops, with a focus on open containers and underage drinking.

Residents should also be aware that numerous cameras have been set along the parade route, which are monitored in real time by the Worcester Police Department's Real Time Crime Center.