What to Know
- The first taste of the traffic began just outside Indio at the Cook Street exit in Palm Desert.
- City officials recommended that north-and southbound motorists use Washington, Jackson and Calhoun streets as well as Golf Center Parkway.
- East-west travelers were advised to use Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54.
Around 120,000 people were expected to pour out of the desert Monday over area freeways, causing backups and delays for miles following the final weekend of the annual Coachella Music & Art Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.
Clear traffic conditions for westbound motorists leaving the festival area during the morning hours ended by noon, as reduced speeds were the rule on two stretches of the 10 Freeway, according to Sigalert.
The first taste of the traffic began just outside Indio at the Cook Street exit in Palm Desert, where traffic was slowed to about 30 mph for about three miles.
Delays only worsened as motorists neared the Highway 111 and 10 Freeway interchange.
For those festivalgoers who have yet to leave the desert, officials reminded motorists of several significant road closures for the day:
- Avenue 49 between Hjorth and Monroe streets
- Avenue 50 between Madison and Jackson streets
- Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50
- Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52.
City officials recommended that north- and southbound motorists use Washington, Jackson and Calhoun streets as well as Golf Center Parkway; while east-west travelers were advised to use Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54.
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While the two weekends of Coachella are at an end, festival season in the desert continues this week as the Stagecoach Festival takes center stage Friday. The annual country music festival is also expected to create significant traffic.
