If your commute involves Newark in any way, shape or form, you’ll want to pay attention here because Monday, Aug. 26, is the MTV Video Music Awards — and the effects of the event will be far reaching.
Newark’s Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose says the Newark Police Department is “extremely prepared and positioned” to ensure the VMAs at the Prudential Center Monday goes smoothly and safely.
“I always say, ‘When the weather report says 6 inches of snow, prepare for two feet,’” Ambrose said. “I sat with my team over the last few weeks and we went over — God forbid — the worst case scenarios.
“I’m not going to discuss our strategic positioning or checkpoints, but I can tell you, we have eyes and ears everywhere. The Newark Police Department and our partner law enforcement agencies will do everything we can to minimize the breach of public safety. We are prepared to handle any situation swiftly and efficiently.”
Ambrose says the Newark PD will be out in full force, manning the event zone and surrounding streets, directing traffic in and out the city from every direction, while maintaining full manpower in the precincts.
“Everybody, I mean everybody, is working,” he said.
While not disclosing exact numbers, Ambrose says there will be about 300 uniformed officers between the Newark PD and partner agencies in the event zone and surrounding areas, plus VMA event security. A significant number of plainclothes officers will be in the crowd and Newark SWAT teams and Emergency Services Units will positioned around the arena. The police helicopter will also be deployed.
The VMAs will require significant road closures around the arena all day and Ambrose has asked downtown businesses to consider early dismissals or even allowing employees to work from home.
“We are trying to spare people the aggravating gridlock, both coming into work and leaving,” Ambrose said. “It would be a mistake to underestimate the impact the VMA Awards are going to have on downtown and the main roads in and out of the city.”
The road closures will also effect some NJ Transit bus routes in the downtown area. Commuters should go to njtransit.com and follow prompts to schedules, route changes and use the “my bus” page.
Ambrose said the VMAs represent just another example of Newark being “a major league city.”
“We’ve had the Pope, the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa,” Ambrose said. “I think we can handle Taylor Swift.”
STREET CLOSURES
Because of the traffic congestion projected to result from this event, the Newark PD encourages those traveling in the area to allow for extra time and, if not attending the event, to plan alternate routes.
Sunday, Aug. 25, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Mulberry Street between Market Street and Lafayette Street
Monday, Aug. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Mulberry Street, from Lafayette Street to Market Street
- Franklin Street
Monday, Aug. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Extended Street Closure)
- Mulberry Street, from Raymond Boulevard and Green Street
Monday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Market Street between Washington Street and McCarter Highway
- Edison Place between Broad Street and McCarter Highway
- Commerce Street
- Clinton Street
- Beaver Street
LANE-CLOSURE INFORMATION
Monday, Aug. 26, from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Bus lane and northbound lane of traffic on Broad Street, from Green Street to Market Street
Monday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Westbound lane of traffic on Lafayette Street, from McCarter Highway to Broad Street
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.