Police brace for a hell on wheels

Police are mapping out traffic management plans to avoid gridlock on local streets when major shutdowns of routes 1, 1A, and Interstate 93 occur during next month's Democratic National Convention at the FleetCenter in Boston.

Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, and Saugus police have met twice with State Police to figure out how to keep traffic flowing, when thousands of vehicles will be diverted to local streets after the highways close July 26-29, starting at 4 p.m.

Although not yet final, the local traffic plans aim to limit the impact on downtown streets and neighborhoods. They also will manage traffic backups on the highways and bottlenecks at major rotaries, such as Bell Circle in Revere.

To cope, police expect to have more officers directing traffic. Motorcycle and bicycle patrols also will be increased to meet local needs, police said.

"We're used to drivers sliding onto our streets to avoid rush hour on Route 1," said Saugus Lieutenant Michael Annese. "But we expect these road closings to have much more impact, because they'll last most of the night. . . . It's going to be a sticky four days."

Said Malden Chief Kenneth Coye, "Under the current plan, the traffic flow will be devastating for us. It will create a huge traffic burden for us on Pleasant Street, which is right downtown."

The road closings and restrictions were ordered by the Secret Service, which has designated the convention a National Special Security Event.

It's unclear how many additional cars will be diverted to local streets. "It's unpredictable," said Everett Chief Steven Mazzie, whose department is hosting the State Police meetings. "There are a lot of [public safety] agencies planning this, and I don't think the true impact is yet known. . . . But I think it's going to have a tremendous impact on Everett. We're looking at gridlock."

A master traffic plan for the convention is based on the premise that daily traffic will drop by 50 percent during the convention week, as commuters take vacations or work from home, or the driving public opts to stay away from Boston, police said.

"On these four nights, if people don't need to drive, they shouldn't drive," said Revere Captain James Guido. "To accommodate a lot of these road closures and detours, they'll have to reduce the volume of everyday traffic. These [local roads] weren't meant to handle this volume of traffic."

The road closings and detours will affect each community differently. The closing of I-93 will impact Chelsea, Everett, and Malden. Southbound traffic will have to get off at exit 32 in Medford to get on Route 60, which would take them into downtown Malden. A lane will be open on I-93 for emergency vehicles, however.

Coye had hoped the security plan would have drivers get off at Route 16, the Revere Beach Parkway, to limit the impact on downtown Malden. He still hopes the plan changes.

"If they went to Route 16, they'd relieve us of a huge traffic burden. The Revere Beach Parkway is better able to handle the traffic flow," Coye said. "If you have [motorists] get off at Route 60, it's a two-lane road. It will be gridlock."

Ann Roman, a spokeswoman for the Secret Service in Washington, did not return a call seeking comment. A spokesman for the State Police referred all questions about the traffic plan to Boston 2004, the organizing committee for the convention. A press aide at Boston 2004 said all calls about traffic must be handled by the State Police.

In Everett, Mazzie thinks the greatest chance for tie-ups will be along routes 99 and 16. One goal will be to keep major intersections open and clear access to Whidden Memorial Hospital on Garland Street.

"We will be out on our busiest roadways and intersections to make sure there is good access to the hospital. That's at the top of our concerns," he said.

In Revere and Chelsea, travel on routes 1 and 1A also will be restricted. On Route 1, drivers heading to Boston will only get as far as the Route 60 exit at the Revere Cinemas. After that, only one lane will be open for local traffic to get to Malden, Everett, and Chelsea. The Tobin Bridge southbound also will be closed, although the northbound side will be open, according to the security plan.

On Route 1A, motorists headed to Boston will have to use the Ted Williams Tunnel. The Sumner Tunnel into Boston will be closed, but the Callahan Tunnel, heading out, will remain open. The changes will bring more traffic than some roads can handle, police said.

"The way the road system is around here, everyone will be impacted," said Chelsea Captain Keith Houghton. "As people get closer to Boston, they'll be cutting through Chelsea, Revere, East Boston, particularly if they're headed to the airport. Whatever we can do to keep the traffic flowing, the better off we will all be. "

The five communities plan to meet early next month with the State Police to finalize plans.

"This has to be a joint effort," said Guido, the Revere captain. "None of [the communities] has ever dealt with an event of this magnitude. . . . Unless someone from the public really has to go to work, or has to go to the hospital, they really shouldn't drive to Boston that week."

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.