Lebanon's downtown was bustling with a different kind of traffic this weekend, as the city celebrated its annual Horse Drawn Carriage Parade and Festival. According to a social media post from the Lebanon Division of Police, the festive proceedings led to several street closures on December 6, impacting the usual flow of vehicles. Revelers had to take note that from 6:00 a.m. until midnight, Broadway (U.S. Route 42 and State Route 48) was off-limits for traffic, shut down between Main Street (State Route 63/123) and Silver Street.
The city advised that additional roadways would be closed during the parade times which were from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and then later on from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., the affected routes included Broadway extending from Monroe Road to South Street and Warren Street (US Route 42) seeing closure at East Street moreover Main Street (State Routes 63 and 123) would be closed from West Street to East Street. The traffic diversions inevitably meant delays for anyone trying to get through or around the downtown area, with a particular warning going out to those driving semi-tractor trailers to find an alternate route.
Local authorities worked to ensure that the festive activities could unfold safely, while balancing the need for traffic order and connectivity. The Lebanon Division of Police communicated the traffic adjustments well in advance to accommodate attendees as well as those just passing through. The temporary disruptions, while possibly inconvenient, were part and parcel of the trade-off when a community comes together to partake in tradition and celebration.
