Excitement is in the air as the presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump prepare to take the debate stage at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday night. But even before the big event, their presence is already being felt in the city of Philadelphia, particularly in Old City.
In the early hours of Tuesday, a security perimeter was established by the U.S. Secret Service, encompassing the area surrounding Sixth and Arch streets. The perimeter extends from Market Street to Race Street and west of Fourth Street to Seventh Street. The 700 block of Race Street is closed, as well as the roadways around Franklin Square.
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Vehicular and pedestrian traffic is allowed on Market Street and Fourth Street while the security restrictions are in place, as confirmed by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. Individuals working within the perimeter are required to enter through a checkpoint at Seventh and Arch streets.
Early Tuesday morning, the entrance to the eastbound lanes of Interstate 676 at Sixth Street was closed. However, I-676 westbound remains open. The eastbound lanes of the Ben Franklin Bridge from I-676 to New Jersey will close after rush hour, while the westbound lanes into Philadelphia will remain open.
Provided image/Philadelphia OEM
Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management provided this map showing all the road closures that will be in effect Tuesday to create a security perimeter around the National Constitution Center, at Sixth and Arch streets, where presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will be debating at 9 p.m.
Roads will remain closed until officials have cleared the event area, expected to be sometime Wednesday. Delays are anticipated on the streets surrounding the security perimeter.
According to Philly OEM, the number of closed streets is subject to change, and additional roads may be shut down for public safety or due to anticipated protests. Rolling street closures are also expected for the arrivals of Harris and Trump.
The Harris-Trump debate has resulted in SEPTA’s buses being detoured and temporary changes on the Market-Frankford Line.
To accommodate the road closures, several bus routes in Old City are rerouted from early Tuesday through Wednesday morning, as announced by SEPTA. Buses will not stop on Market Street between Fifth and Seventh streets due to fencing blocking the sidewalks.
The Market-Frankford Line will only stop on the east side of the Fifth Street Station, with the west side closed. SEPTA has staff at the station to assist passengers.
The Independence Visitors Center and Christ Church Burial Ground are impacted by the security perimeter, with the former closed and the latter remaining open.
Philadelphia Police and Pennsylvania State Police will have an increased presence during the debate. The OEM’s Emergency Operations Center is activated to facilitate communications between agencies.
Families of students at Gen. George A McCall School received an email informing them of an early dismissal on Tuesday at 12:39 p.m. to accommodate the event and ensure student safety.
As the stage is set for Harris and Trump to debate at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, the city of Philadelphia buzzes with anticipation and heightened security measures ahead of this historic event.