Some changes to parade routes for some Mardi Gras krewes, because of the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel site on Canal Street.
The latest surrounds the Krewe of Endymion.
The City of New Orleans reports that the " superkrewe" will parade down it's traditional Mid-City route from Orleans to Carrollton, to Canal. However because of the collapsed site at the Hard Rock, Endymion will make a right turn on Elks Place, continue down Loyola Avenue and turn left on Poydras, before making a right on St. Charles Avenue. Endymion will then turn left on Julia Street and head to the Convention Center for this year's Endymion Extravaganza. The Superdome is closed because of the renovations being made inside.
Endymion parades on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. This year's parade is February 22.
It was also announced that Zulu would have a parade route change for its parade Mardi Gras day.
The release from the City of New Orleans is below:
Today, the City of New Orleans announced amended 2020 parade routes for the Krewes of Endymion and Zulu due to public safety interests.
Road closures associated with the evacuation zone of the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel will remain in place throughout the 2020 Carnival season. Those closures include Canal Street from Burgundy to Elk streets and North Rampart Street from Bienville to Common streets. The routes of the Krewes of Endymion and Zulu parades traditionally pass through the evacuated area, and therefore must be rerouted for 2020 Mardi Gras.
In addition to collapse-related street closures, the City of New Orleans considered other public safety interests in its decision to reroute the Endymion parade. After two tragic incidents in the last three years near the Mid-City route, the City took a hard look at the finite public safety resources that manage three separate parade routes on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, by far the busiest day of the season. After bringing concerns to the Krewe of Endymion, Krewe leadership has agreed to provide additional detailed law enforcement officers from neighboring agencies on parade day. Those officers will assist in early traffic control at the beginning of the Mid-City route as New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers arrive, coming immediately from the Uptown route after morning parade assignments.
“Ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors is our number one priority,” said NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson. “During Carnival events, NOPD is all hands on deck. But, with additional law enforcement officers provided by Endymion, I believe we can safely support this slightly amended Mid-City route in 2020. I’d like to thank the Krewes of Endymion and Zulu for their flexibility and commitment to public safety.”
In 2020, the Krewes of Endymion and Zulu will parade along the routes outlined below. Again this year, the City will track the beginning and end of parades in real-time on its mobile-friendly website, routewise.nola.gov, which currently lists all 2020 Carnival parade routes. Additional information is available on the City’s Mardi Gras website at nola.gov/mardi-gras. Residents and visitors are also encouraged to text MARDIGRAS to 888777 to receive updates on parade schedules, transportation impacts, public safety, and weather information directly from the City of New Orleans.
Krewe of Endymion 2020 Route Saturday, Feb. 22, at 4:15 p.m.
START: City Park and Orleans avenuesProceed down Orleans AvenueRight on North Carrollton AvenueLeft on Canal StreetRight on Elk PlaceContinue onto Loyola AvenueLeft on Poydras StreetRight on St. Charles AvenueLeft on Julia StreetRight on Convention Center BoulevardEND: Convention CenterEndymion Parade Route Map Krewe of Zulu 2020 RouteTuesday, Feb. 25, at 8 a.m.
START: Jackson and South Claiborne avenuesProceed down Jackson StreetLeft on St. Charles AvenueLeft on Poydras StreetRight on Loyola StreetContinue onto Elk PlaceContinue onto Basin StreetContinue onto Orleans AvenueEND: Orleans Avenue and North Broad StreetZulu parade map
