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Gadsden moves July 4 fireworks to Broad Street Bridge; Highway 411 to close for safety
Summary
Mayor Craig Ford said the city will relocate its July 4 fireworks to the Broad Street Bridge, close Highway 411, use marine patrol to clear boats and establish a police command center to handle what officials expect will be an unprecedented crowd.
Mayor Craig Ford announced that Gadsden’s July 4 fireworks display will be moved to the Broad Street Bridge and said the city will close Highway 411 and set up a police command center for public safety.
The move is intended to accommodate a larger crowd and improve safety. "We're gonna shut down 04:11. The highway department's worked with us on shutting it down. We're gonna have a police command center because we're expecting the largest crowd we've ever had," Mayor Craig Ford said. He added that marine patrol will position boats to keep spectators safe on the water.
Ford said the fireworks show will follow music and food trucks at what the city is calling Riverside Park, the site of the former ice-skating rink. There will be bands, food trucks and beverage vendors nearby; Ford said the fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. and urged residents to plan for crowd-related delays.
City officials have coordinated with the highway department and marine patrol on closures and boat placement; Ford said those agencies will work with police to reduce risk from dehydration or other medical issues during the event.
Details on parking, road-closure maps and specific safety protocols will be released before the holiday, Ford said.
For planning purposes, residents should expect Highway 411 to be closed in the affected stretch during the event and to follow directions from public-safety personnel on site.
