Traffic Expected to be Heavy for Hartwell Pre-Fourth Festivities

As Hartwell gears up for tonight’s kick off of this weekend’s Pre-fourth activities, Hartwell Police and the Hart County Sheriff’s office are also planning for heavy traffic throughout the weekend.

Activities begin tonight with the “Dancin’ on Depot” on Depot Street in downtown Hartwell.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland says traffic will be heavy in the downtown area tonight.

“Folks traveling through town Friday night need to be aware some of the streets downtown will be blocked off and traffic will be rerouted,” he said.

Then on Saturday morning traffic is again expected to be bad downtown with the YMCA triathalon and the arts and crafts fair.

“Saturday morning, almost all of the traffic will be rerouted to the side streets and that’s going to be a nightmare for the Hartwell Police Department,” Cleveland said.

And Saturday night, crowds and long traffic lines are expected as people make their way up the Anderson Highway to the Big Oaks Recreation Center for the fireworks.

Sheriff Cleveland says if your driving in that direction and not planning to go see the fireworks, you may want to choose an alternate route.

“Saturday evening just before dark and thereafter, Highway 29, the Anderson Highway is going to be really messed up during the fireworks and even after. So, if you have an alternate route, you might want to consider using that.”

There will be lots of people downtown throughout the weekend and at Big Oak Park on Saturday night, so the Sheriff asks motorists to please drive carefully.