Day one: Traffic light, spectators wet
FARMINGTON – As far as traffic issues were concerned, day one of the weeklong 84 Lumber Classic of Pennsylvania PGA event was a success. As far as the weather was concerned, it was a bust.
Monday marked the first of two pro-am events for the tournament, which is being held at Mystic Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa. The spectators that ventured up on the mountain for the event found plenty of signs directing them where they should and shouldn’t park. Finding the parking lots and getting to the site were not a problem but getting to see any golfing became tricky as rain delayed play for much of the afternoon.
For the event, which will continue through Sunday, SFX Sports Management Inc. has been hired by Nemacolin Woodlands to plan the tournament. As part of a coordinated effort, traffic is being controlled by the state police.
Lt. Charles Depp, commander of the Uniontown barracks of the state police, said early Monday afternoon that traffic has been very light. He said things were proceeding without complications, but cautioned that it was only the beginning.
“Obviously, it’s just the start. It’s going to be a new ball game for us. We don’t know what to expect,” Depp said. However, he added that he anticipates that parking will be a lot better than any of the one-day golf tournaments that have been held in the past at the resort. Depp said the off-site parking and shuttle buses should keep things running smoothly.
Numerous no parking signs were placed along Route 40 near the resort entrance in anticipation of the tournament. Depp said an engineering study conducted by the state Department of Transportation in the area from Dinner Bell Road to Route 381 gave the police the ability to ticket violators.
Although the cost of a ticket will be minimal, paying for a towed vehicle will likely cost over $100. Depp said anyone who parks along Route 40 will be towed and fined.
State police troopers were stationed along the route to direct vehicles to their designated areas. Depp earlier said that 14 or 15 troopers will work the first three days and on Thursday through Sunday, the days of the main event, police will operate on two shifts of about 30 officers each. In addition to troopers from Uniontown, troopers from the other Troop B barracks- Waynesburg, Findlay, Belle Vernon and Washington- will assist as well.
Officials have estimated a weekly crowd in excess of 70,000 people.
Rico Tesio of SFX, operations and sales manager for the tournament, said every report he obtained was that traffic was running smoothly for the first day and everyone was getting in and out in a very timely manner.
“There are no problems as of yet, everyone is getting in and out of the parking lots smoothly,” Tesio said. Parking lots open at 6:30 a.m.
Organizers analyzed the four directions from which spectators could travel to the tournament – east or west on Route 40 and north and south on Route 381 – and secured parking areas for 15,000 cars in the four quadrants, all within a 5-mile radius of the resort.
Signs direct drivers to the lots. The sites of the lots have not been announced, because event organizers want drivers to park where they are directed. They don’t want drivers going to lots on their own and creating further traffic tie-ups.
In addition to not allowing parking on Route 40, drop-offs are also forbidden between Route 381 and Dinner Bell Road. Spectators are not allowed to walk to the tournament and must arrive in one of the shuttle buses from the parking lots. Tesio said the buses will take spectators to the site every 15 to 20 minutes, at a cost of $5.
In addition to a parking plan, there is also a unified command post on site with security, state police and EMS personnel to handle emergency situations at the tournament. PennDOT did its part as well, finishing the slide repair and repaving project along Route 40 on Summit Mountain in time for the event.
Today will mark the day for the professional practice rounds.