Westbound 210 Freeway reopens as fans head to Galaxy-Barcelona match in Pasadena
Galaxy forward Robbie Keane scores on a penalty kick against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of a match on July 17. The Galaxy take on Barcelona on Tuesday, July 21.
To the nearly 90,000 fans expected at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday night for the match between the Galaxy and Barcelona, transit officials had sounded the alarm: avoid the westbound 210 Freeway.
An overturned big rig on the westbound 210 Freeway near Lake Avenue blocked all lanes for nearly six hours Tuesday. But by 6:15 p.m., the busy roadway was fully reopened, more than an hour before kickoff, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The closure of the 210 Freeway compounded a traffic situation that was expected to be especially heavy. City officials warned that Tuesday’s match has “one of the largest crowds expected this year for a stadium event,” according to a statement. “Fans are strongly encouraged to arrive early.”
Kickoff for the match in the International Champions Cup is at 8 p.m., but stadium parking lots opened six hours earlier, at 2 p.m. to ease the crush of vehicles, with a fan festival starting at the same time. Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m.
Rose Bowl parking will be $30 for those arriving after 5 p.m.
The city also is offering free shuttles to and from the stadium from Parsons Engineering in Old Pasadena, with parking available at the Parsons parking lot on Fair Oaks Avenue and Walnut Street, as well as in surrounding lots.
According to the city, shuttles will have their own dedicated route into and out of the Rose Bowl to avoid delays.
Pasadena officials also are encouraging fans to take the Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station at Holly Street and Raymond Avenue, two blocks from the Parsons Engineering shuttle lot.
City officials are warning fans not to rely on GPS for directions to the Rose Bowl because there will be road closures on some streets and temporary no-parking areas.
“No one freeway exit is better than another,” the city said in a statement. There will be traffic safety officers on scene around the stadium.
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Twitter: @MattHjourno
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