Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - As the Buffalo Bills get set for their preseason game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, drivers will see some changes when it comes to parking, and possibly traffic.
There is the massive construction project for the new stadium underway along Abbott Road, and the game coincides with the Erie County Fair.
Orchard Park Police Chief Patrick Fitzgerald tells WBEN the traffic pattern on Saturday should be the same as it was last year on Bills gamedays. He anticipates a little heavier traffic thanks to the fact the game falls on the same day as Day 4 of the Erie County Fair. "Every year, we end up having a stadium event that seems to fall on the day of the fair. So, you know, this isn't the first time and we're certainly used to it," explains Fitzgerald. He says no matter your destination, give yourself extra time and plan your route accordingly. "Be patient with one another and realize that everyone's trying to get to the same place," adds Fitzgerald.
People used to parking on one side of ECC will have to make an adjustment. "The parking on the west side of Erie Community College's campus, the people that are used to parking on ECC campus, walk eastbound down the middle of the campus, and kind of empty out right in front of the stadium on Abbott Road, that's no longer an option because of the construction site and because of the fencing and the dangers that are going on inside that area," notes Fitzgerald. He says anyone that parks on the west side of the ECC campus is going to have to walk up to Southwestern Boulevard or down to Big Tree Road and then come eastbound towards Abbott. He recommends going to Southwestern because of available sidewalks.
Eric "The Hammer" Matwijow of Hammer's Lot noticed fewer cars coming down Abbott Road because of new stadium construction. "A lot more pedestrian traffic, walking down from the former employee lot headed towards the stadium. I think the traffic on the rest of the lots [is] going to be okay," says Matwijow.
Matwijow anticipates less of a traffic hassle than you might think. "The Fair opening up at 11 o'clock. So I think that's a good thing. The stadium opening at 9am, I'll be open at 7:30 along with other private lots," says Matwijow.
He notes construction has forced him to redesign the parking layout. "It's causing a little bit [of] disruption but you just adapt and you go with the flow for me and the other people looking for parking spots," says Matwijow.
The Bills play Indianapolis at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.
