While NASA prepares for a giant leap Monday morning, traffic around the Florida Space Coast is expected to be reduced to a crawl.
The historical launch of Artemis I, the first of a series of launches that aims to by 2025 return humans to the moon, is expected to draw an enormous crowd Monday morning estimated between 100,000 and 200,000 people, according to the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center. Currently the 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions with a chance of small scattered showers across the Atlantic lasting through the two-hour launch window that opens at 8:33 a.m.
While weather could be light during the scheduled time, traffic is expected begin congesting roadways earlier. Experts predict the height of traffic congestion could begin at 5 a.m. and last through 10 a.m.
Jetty Park, on Port Canaveral, will open at 5 a.m. and will remain open until the park reaches capacity. Parking is limited to electronic passholders and must be purchased in advance. Transactions will not be allowed at the entrance booth. Bicyclists and walk-ins will also be permitted into the park, until it reaches capacity. After the launch, vehicles departing Jetty Park will be directed by Brevard County deputies onto Shorewood Drive toward N. Atlantic Boulevard.
During liftoff, five cruise ships will be in port , and as a result, Cape Canaveral is warning cruise guests, vendors and employees heading to the port for any ship sailings to plan for extra drive time with higher-than-normal traffic volumes expected on all roads in and around Port Canaveral.
The Cocoa Beach Police department will be out in force Monday morning, monitoring traffic flow and signals. City authorities are also advising Monday travelers of certain traffic changes.
Here are some around the launch area:
Cocoa Beach
A1A: No left turn from northbound A1A to S.R. 520 westbound.
No U-turns on S.R. 528 or George King Boulevard will be tolerated.
Southbound A1A should proceed to S.R. 404 (Pineda Causeway) to access U.S. 1 or Interstate 95.
Eastbound motorists on S.R. 528 will proceed to A1A south. Use S.R. 520 westbound as an alternate to S.R. 528.
Port Canaveral
Exploration Tower and parking lot are closed for construction.
All cruise terminal parking garages and nearby surface lots are open for cruise guest parking only.
No parking allowed on George King Boulevard, S.R. 401, or any port roadways.
No parking on unpaved lots or grassy surface areas.
No parking allowed on S.R. 528 median – entire length.
S.R. 401 will be open to vehicle traffic heading to the port’s northside cruise terminals and cargo operations and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station checkpoints. Also, the S.R. 401 bridge will not open for vessel transits from 7:30 a.m. until 12 p.m..
The Florida Department of Transportation Road Rangers will be patrolling I-95 and S.R. 528 to assist motorists with vehicle breakdowns and accident support.
Titusville
All lanes on the A. Max Brewer Bridge will be closed immediately after launch for approximately one hour, allowing for pedestrian traffic to cross over safely.
Titusville Police want to advise motorists to slow down in launch viewing areas, especially on U.S. 1, and S.R. 406 along the A. Max Brewer Bridge, and all surrounding areas.
All motorists north of Harrison Street will proceed northbound.
All vehicles south of Harrison will proceed southbound.
Motorists on S.R. 406 (Garden Street) and on the A. Max Brewer Bridge and surrounding areas will proceed west.
For more information visit city websites at Titusville, Cape Canaveral, and Cocoa Beach.
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