“Traffic is expected to be heavier than normal this Wednesday in and around downtown Tampa due to multiple events taking place. Drivers and pedestrians alike are advised to allow for extra travel time and to travel through the area with caution,” said the advisory.
Here’s what to expect tonight in downtown Tampa:
From 5:15 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Cage the Elephant is playing a free show for the NHL Concert & Watch Party at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park Then, the Abstract Expressionism: A Social Revolution Art show will begin at the Tampa Museum of Art from, 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m.
Obviously, the big one is game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Bolts and Blue Jackets at Amalie Arena from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. And, lastly to top it off, the Tony Award-winning musical “Dear Evan Hansen” will go down at the Straz Center from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Because of these events, the city will be shutting down the southbound outside lane on N. Ashley Drive from W. Gasparilla Plaza to E. Madison Street with a break at E. Twiggs Street, and W. Gasprilla Plaza will be closed from W. Cass Street to N. Ashley Drive.
All of this, combined with the normal, awful, everyday traffic, will certainly cause some colossal headaches, so if you haven’t left work by now then consider sleeping in your cubicle, and if you’re planning to attend any of these events it’s highly recommended you take a Lyft or an Uber, or maybe even use Tampa’s free and reliable TECO streetcar.
Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter to get the most up-to-date news + views. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.
This article appears in Apr 4-11, 2019.