09/26/09: Buffalo Area Travel Advisories

You may hit a couple road blocks driving around Buffalo this weekend, especially if you’re heading to the Bills football game. Residents around Ralph Wilson Stadium may look forward to the games, but would rather bypass the thousands of tailgaters and game day traffic.
NICKI: “Game day with is it like around here?”
ORCHARD PARK RESIDENT: “Bad, just bad.”
While he wouldn’t tell me his name, an Orchard Park resident did tell me what he thinks is the quickest way the Ralph.
“You go 219 to south Armor Road, turn right and go to Abbott Road. And make a right and you come right back to the stadium,” said the man who lives blocks from the stadium.
Fans looking to drive to Ralph Wilson Stadium on a game day better their game plan ready. The Erie County Sherriff’s officials are strongly advising drivers to stick to Route 219 exits leading to the stadium. Drivers should also be on the lookout for lane closures along Big Tree Road also known as 20-A. Big Tree Road will close from South Park Ave to McKinley Parkway in Hamburg.
“We have detailed some additional people to that intersection. We may have to move additional people at later games depending on what problems we have,” said Erie County Sherriff Timothy Howard.
Some 80,000 fans attended the Bills season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. The same turnout is expected for the matchup against New Orleans Saints. More people in the stands mean more on the road stuck in traffic.
There are also weekend closures on northbound 190 between the Peace Bridge- Porter Avenue Exit to Vulcan Street in Buffalo.
“This detour is in place Friday at approximately eight p.m. until Monday at six a-m. and it continues on weekend through October, with the exception of the Columbus Day weekend,” said Sgt. John McGee with the New York State Police, Troop A.
Drivers should follow the detours through the city along Niagara Street. The 33 Kensington Expressway will also experience closures as crews work on a pedestrian walkway in the Grider Street area. Drivers should follow posted detour signs to the Scajaquada Expressway, Humboldt, East Utica and Main Street,