As Philadelphia braces for the pope’s impending visit, many locals feel as though it is more like impending doom as the event is expected to bring total chaos to the city amidst massive road closures and day-long (or worse) traffic delays.
It has been announced that numerous major roadways will be completely shut down for nearly four days, starting on Sept. 25 and ending on Sept. 28., displacing millions of travelers and potentially leaving thousands of residents trapped in their homes. Major loss of revenue from affected businesses is also a concern. According to Philly.com, some employees will be stuck at work for over 72 hours, forced to sleep on cots and unable to access their houses for the duration of the pope’s visit.
I-95, a major highway, will see many ramp closures, while City Avenue, a crucial thoroughfare connecting Center City with the suburbs, will close completely. Interstates 76 and 476 will shut down, forcing thousands of cars onto local roadways, many of which will also be blocked off. Route 1 will be closed between Belmont Avenue and Route 30. The Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which connects Philadelphia to New Jersey, will be totally barricaded.
Amidst all of these road and bridge closures, there will be an additional 1.5 to two million people descending on the Philadelphia area, further adding to the stress on already over-burdened city resources. Philadelphia officials say that they expect SEPTA, the city’s public transportation system, to be completely overwhelmed, and that anyone who needs to go anywhere within the city or the outlying areas should “be prepared to walk.”
At least seven major colleges have already canceled classes in anticipation of the weekend, while additional public and private school closures continue to be announced.
The imminent arrival of the pope has many residents upset. Some are questioning how they will drive to work while commuters who rely on public transportation will simply have to accept lost revenue as the buses and trains may be impossible to navigate.
Worst of all, residents with medical concerns are worried about how they will access critical treatments during the time the pope is in town. One Facebook user, speaking of the expected chaos, explained:
So ridiculous! People do have lives to live and work to attend! Is the archdiocese or the wonderful city of Philadelphia going to pay my bills and give us a paycheck for this HUGE inconvenience. Or how about people such as myself that have cancer and commute to the city for visits and treatment?? This was a poorly thought decision.
Many others on social media agree. One of the primary complaints is that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who was a key player in bringing the pope to Philadelphia, has done a poor job in planning. Nutter has been the subject of some heavy criticism over the coming mayhem. Earlier today, Philly.com blogger Will Bunch posted an open letter to Nutter, saying that Nutter is “screwing up,” big-time.
Some have questioned the ethics of having residents be subjected to such utter chaos, especially in light of the event’s purpose. At least one Facebook user pointed out that the religious nature of the visit makes the surrounding inconvenience inappropriate: “What about the churches who are not catholic and are located in center city and surrounding areas who now have to close their doors because members can’t get there?!? Philly didn’t even do this for the president whether republican or democrat,” wrote a social media commenter.
The frustration of many residents was summed up neatly in a comment left by Facebook user Anthony Grieve. “As if he’s someone important,” Grieve wrote. “He’s the leader of the biggest scam organization in the history of mankind.”