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Arrive early and be patient when it comes to parade morning. (CHAT News File Photo)

Motorists advised to plan ahead for Stampede Parade road closures

Jul 26, 2022 | 1:58 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — For several years, Medicine Hat Police Service Insp. Brent Secondiak has stationed himself at the corner of Maple Avenue and First Street, to assist in crowd and traffic control before the Stampede Parade, and he’s offering some advice ahead of this Thursday’s event.

First off, Secondiak advises people to arrive early and have a plan where to park and how you’ll leave the area at the end of the parade.

Secondiak says every year, he encounters drivers who are frustrated because they can’t drive into the parade and through barricades once the parade has passed a vantage point.

“People want to go downtown and pick people up or do other things and we can’t let them drive into the downtown core. I’ve had a few people angered at me or frustrated that they can’t drive down there,” says Secondiak.

Screengrab From Facebook/Brent Secondiak

He advises those people to park and walk or be patient and wait half an hour or an hour and then you’ll be able to go down there.

READ MORE: Road closures to make way for the Stampede parade

The inspector also cautions people not to jump out into the parade route to take a picture of a float either, as that becomes a safety issue.

As of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, there will be no on-street parking in the parade marshalling area along Allowance and Woodman avenues, and in the 800 block of Third Street SE and from Maple Avenue east on Second Street to the entrance to Lions Park.

Major roadways, including Finlay and Maple Avenue Bridges, and streets in the downtown core will close at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, which are on the parade route.