Police Chief Bryan Kirkpatrick standing at the intersection of East Main Street and Vanderford Road, where the former will be blocked during home games this football season.
LYNN - The Lynn Police Department will be closing part of East Main Street for home football games this season, starting Thursday, Aug. 28, with the Hackleburg game.
East Main Street will be blocked at the intersection with Vanderford Road. One lane of the street next to the stadium will be used as handicapped parking for the visitors' side of the stadium, and once any cars needing that parking are in place, East Main will also be blocked at the school driveway north of the football field.
The lane not used for parking will be available for emergency vehicles to use if needed during the game, Police Chief Bryan Kirkpatrick noted.
Kirkpatrick had told the Lynn Town Council and Mayor Earl Gilbert at the August 18 council meeting that he had concerns about pedestrians being struck by cars on that stretch of East Main Street during games.
"Visitors walking to the visitors' side pretty much have to walk in the road," Kirkpatrick said later. "(Closing the road) is going to eliminate that issue."
In response to his concerns, the council voted to pass Ordinance No. 2025-04, authorizing the mayor and chief of police or their designees to "temporarily close, restrict access to or re-route traffic on any public street, alley, roadway or right-of-way within the town limits" during special events or inclement weather and due to street damage or roadway hazards or to, "any other situation that presents a risk to public health, safety or emergency response."
"It's going to be an inconvenience to some folks," Kirkpatrick acknowledged, "but we're trying to look at the big picture. Safety's more important to me than a little bit of inconvenience."
He pointed out those driving north on East Main Street during the road closure could take Vanderford Road to Highway 5 to detour around the closed section of road and return to East Main Street by way of Long Street.
Kirkpatrick said School Resource Officer Mike Clark has mentioned possibly blocking the street in the same way at home baseball games, as well.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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