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County preps for traffic, impact of Lockn’ event
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Zac Brown
Dan Harr/AP
In this AP file photo, Zac Brown Band performed on Day 1 of the NCAA Final Four Big Dance Concert in Centennial Olympic park on Friday, April 5, 2013 in Atlanta, Ga.
Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 11:22 am
Katherine Lacaze
The population of Nelson County is projected to more than double the weekend of Sept. 5 through 8, as thousands pour in from all over the state and even the country for the inaugural Lockn’ Festival at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington. This news is better for some people than others.
With more than 17,500 tickets sold and counting, the festival’s impact promises to be large, not just on the 650-acre event site on the Oak Ridge property, but also on the county as a whole.
“Authorities have been very helpful,” said Dave Frey, co-founder of Lockn’.
Frey said traffic during the festival is the main issue on people’s minds.
“If we can minimize the impact as far as traffic goes, I think that’s the largest thing,” Frey said when addressing how organizers are working to mitigate any negative effects on the county.
Frey said traffic is a concern because of the access point for Oak Ridge on U.S. 29. Organizers have worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation to craft a plan they hope will prevent traffic from backing up on U.S. 29.
“We’re continuing to work on the details with the festival organizers and the state police, but everyone’s been very cooperative,” said Paula Jones, communications manager for the VDOT Lynchburg district.
The plan includes directing all festival traffic traveling northbound on U.S. 29 to use the right lane, and all through-traffic to use the left lane.
Festival-goers traveling southbound will not be able to turn into the event site at Oak Ridge Road, but instead will continue down U.S. 29 and then take a U-turn just before Tye River Road to access northbound U.S. 29.
Once inside the entrance off Oak Ridge Road, traffic can spread out seven lanes wide to go through security checkpoints and get wristbands.
Jones said access to crossovers in the medians for turning between Oak Ridge Road and Tye River Road will be restricted, especially during peak times. VDOT will put up signs and message boards to alert drivers to the routes and also will be using 511 and Twitter.
“We’ll have crews out there, as well, and we’ll be monitoring,” Jones said.
She said organizers expect the greatest levels of congestion late on the night of Sept. 4 and into the morning of Sept. 5.
For those planning to pass through Nelson County during those times, VDOT is encouraging the use alternate roads, such as Virginia 151.In response to the potential traffic issues, Nelson County Public Schools will be closed on Sept. 5 and 6. Students will make up both days in October.
“I have not received any negative feedback on the calendar change as of today,” NCPS Superintendent Richard Collins said Friday.
Security is another concern Frey has heard people mention.
While the Virginia State Police Department will be overseeing traffic, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency services agencies and fire departments will be handling security on site at the event.
Nelson County Emergency Services Coordinator Jaime Miller said more dispatchers are scheduled to work during the festival, and that a “tractor-trailer load” of extra medical supplies have been brought in.
Although the Wintergreen Fire and Rescue Squad got the contract for the event, Miller said she has been working with all local volunteer fire departments and rescue squads to ensure everyone is able to handle their normal call load and also have extra people available for any emergencies at the event.
“There’s been a lot of coordination to make sure this event goes seamlessly,” Miller said.
The festival also is bringing in its “own security force that is well-versed in concerts” and will use mountain patrol, “which we’ve found really effective in mass gatherings,” Frey said.
On the flip side, Frey said the festival will integrate local features that will have positive aspects for the county. For instance, there will be a Central Virginia tent near the two stages that will showcase food and local products.
Olivia Branch, media relations coordinator, said there will be approximately 20 Virginia wineries and breweries featured, including some from Nelson County.
Frey said the only caveat was that the businesses and producers had to be capable of providing enough of their product to serve thousands of people.
“We had an overwhelming response online and just in-person, also,” he said. “… We’ve unfortunately had to make choices and whittle it down to those that we felt would best represent Central Virginia.”
Branch said organizers have used all local companies to assist with clearing trees and cleaning up brush for the five-acre forest camping area, cutting grass and building fences, and building roads for the event.
Around the area, people have mixed opinions about having so many new faces in the county.
Some are excited.
“Having hosted large events like Camp Jeep and The Festy, we know the economic impact of these visitors will be substantial,” Nelson County’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism Maureen Kelley said. “Because it is a first-time event, we do not have an estimate but will be tracking its impact carefully as a benchmark for future events.”
Blue Mountain Barrel House, for example, plans to offer music, tours, tastings, food trucks and shuttles to and from the festival during the event.
Even Trinity Episcopal Church, which is near Oak Ridge in Arrington, is getting involved with its own committee created specifically to prepare for the festival.
Ginger Larkin, co-chair of the committee, said they anticipate many visitors during the weekend and plan to serve them with historic tours, special prayer services and a Eucharistic service.
In addition, the festival asked the church to host the festival’s Soberlockn’ group, and there will be meetings on the church grounds daily at noon and 4 p.m. Another meeting for Soberlockn’ will be held at Oak Ridge about midnight.
Larkin said organizers provided the church with fiber-optic cable. For safety, they also are building a fence on the property and will be given use of a security guard.
For more information on Lockn’, formerly named the Interlocken Music Festival, visit www.locknfestival.com.
Contact Katherine Lacaze at (434) 385-5582 or klacaze@newsadvance.com.
Home Nelson County Times News
County preps for traffic, impact of Lockn’ event
Story
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Zac Brown
Dan Harr/AP
In this AP file photo, Zac Brown Band performed on Day 1 of the NCAA Final Four Big Dance Concert in Centennial Olympic park on Friday, April 5, 2013 in Atlanta, Ga.
Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 11:22 am
Katherine Lacaze
The population of Nelson County is projected to more than double the weekend of Sept. 5 through 8, as thousands pour in from all over the state and even the country for the inaugural Lockn’ Festival at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington. This news is better for some people than others.
With more than 17,500 tickets sold and counting, the festival’s impact promises to be large, not just on the 650-acre event site on the Oak Ridge property, but also on the county as a whole.
“Authorities have been very helpful,” said Dave Frey, co-founder of Lockn’.
Frey said traffic during the festival is the main issue on people’s minds.
“If we can minimize the impact as far as traffic goes, I think that’s the largest thing,” Frey said when addressing how organizers are working to mitigate any negative effects on the county.
Frey said traffic is a concern because of the access point for Oak Ridge on U.S. 29. Organizers have worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation to craft a plan they hope will prevent traffic from backing up on U.S. 29.
“We’re continuing to work on the details with the festival organizers and the state police, but everyone’s been very cooperative,” said Paula Jones, communications manager for the VDOT Lynchburg district.
The plan includes directing all festival traffic traveling northbound on U.S. 29 to use the right lane, and all through-traffic to use the left lane.
Festival-goers traveling southbound will not be able to turn into the event site at Oak Ridge Road, but instead will continue down U.S. 29 and then take a U-turn just before Tye River Road to access northbound U.S. 29.
Once inside the entrance off Oak Ridge Road, traffic can spread out seven lanes wide to go through security checkpoints and get wristbands.
Jones said access to crossovers in the medians for turning between Oak Ridge Road and Tye River Road will be restricted, especially during peak times. VDOT will put up signs and message boards to alert drivers to the routes and also will be using 511 and Twitter.
“We’ll have crews out there, as well, and we’ll be monitoring,” Jones said.
She said organizers expect the greatest levels of congestion late on the night of Sept. 4 and into the morning of Sept. 5.
For those planning to pass through Nelson County during those times, VDOT is encouraging the use alternate roads, such as Virginia 151.In response to the potential traffic issues, Nelson County Public Schools will be closed on Sept. 5 and 6. Students will make up both days in October.
“I have not received any negative feedback on the calendar change as of today,” NCPS Superintendent Richard Collins said Friday.
Security is another concern Frey has heard people mention.
While the Virginia State Police Department will be overseeing traffic, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency services agencies and fire departments will be handling security on site at the event.
Nelson County Emergency Services Coordinator Jaime Miller said more dispatchers are scheduled to work during the festival, and that a “tractor-trailer load” of extra medical supplies have been brought in.
Although the Wintergreen Fire and Rescue Squad got the contract for the event, Miller said she has been working with all local volunteer fire departments and rescue squads to ensure everyone is able to handle their normal call load and also have extra people available for any emergencies at the event.
“There’s been a lot of coordination to make sure this event goes seamlessly,” Miller said.
The festival also is bringing in its “own security force that is well-versed in concerts” and will use mountain patrol, “which we’ve found really effective in mass gatherings,” Frey said.
On the flip side, Frey said the festival will integrate local features that will have positive aspects for the county. For instance, there will be a Central Virginia tent near the two stages that will showcase food and local products.
Olivia Branch, media relations coordinator, said there will be approximately 20 Virginia wineries and breweries featured, including some from Nelson County.
Frey said the only caveat was that the businesses and producers had to be capable of providing enough of their product to serve thousands of people.
“We had an overwhelming response online and just in-person, also,” he said. “… We’ve unfortunately had to make choices and whittle it down to those that we felt would best represent Central Virginia.”
Branch said organizers have used all local companies to assist with clearing trees and cleaning up brush for the five-acre forest camping area, cutting grass and building fences, and building roads for the event.
Around the area, people have mixed opinions about having so many new faces in the county.
Some are excited.
“Having hosted large events like Camp Jeep and The Festy, we know the economic impact of these visitors will be substantial,” Nelson County’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism Maureen Kelley said. “Because it is a first-time event, we do not have an estimate but will be tracking its impact carefully as a benchmark for future events.”
Blue Mountain Barrel House, for example, plans to offer music, tours, tastings, food trucks and shuttles to and from the festival during the event.
Even Trinity Episcopal Church, which is near Oak Ridge in Arrington, is getting involved with its own committee created specifically to prepare for the festival.
Ginger Larkin, co-chair of the committee, said they anticipate many visitors during the weekend and plan to serve them with historic tours, special prayer services and a Eucharistic service.
In addition, the festival asked the church to host the festival’s Soberlockn’ group, and there will be meetings on the church grounds daily at noon and 4 p.m. Another meeting for Soberlockn’ will be held at Oak Ridge about midnight.
Larkin said organizers provided the church with fiber-optic cable. For safety, they also are building a fence on the property and will be given use of a security guard.
For more information on Lockn’, formerly named the Interlocken Music Festival, visit www.locknfestival.com.
Contact Katherine Lacaze at (434) 385-5582 or klacaze@newsadvance.com.
