Contact: Elaine Tricoli
Phone: (336) 373-2421

Greensboro Police Work to Ensure Safety for Hip-Hop Fans, Residents

GREENSBORO, NC – (June 27, 2008) – The Greensboro Police Department will be on hand during tonight’s sold-out Super Jam XII concert at the Greensboro Coliseum to ensure the safety and well-being of concert-goers and those who live and travel in the High Point Road area.

Officers will direct traffic, provide arena security, enforce parking regulations, monitor after-concert parties, and address any neighborhood complaints during and after the concert.

“Our goal is to make sure that all of the people attending this concert have a safe experience,” said Chief Tim Bellamy. “From the time they arrive to the time they leave, we will work to protect those who are attending the concert, as well as those who are driving in the Coliseum area and those who live in that area.”

Nearly 18,000 people are expected to attend the concert, which will feature hip-hop artists such as Plies, Flo Rida, Shawty Lo, and Ray-J. A pre-show block party takes place in the Pavilion from 3 to 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm.

Police will staff the pre-show event, as well as the concert itself.

Officers will be assigned to traffic posts around the Coliseum Complex, as well as along the High Point Road, Patterson Street, Holden Road and Lee Street corridors. In addition, officers from each Patrol Division will address issues that may arise from post-concert activities.

“In past years, people attending the concert have stayed in the area when the concert ended and visited some local nightclubs, restaurants or private parties,” Bellamy said. “This has created heavy traffic congestion on High Point Road, as well as on Wendover Avenue and Randleman Road. To help address this issue, we will have extra patrol officers on duty in these areas after the concert to make sure that safety is a top priority.”

The Greensboro Department of Transportation will implement the reversible lane system on High Point Road at 5:15 pm today. The exit right turn lane from northbound High Point Road at Patterson will be closed, as well as the left turn from southbound High Point Road onto Patterson.

Northbound vehicles attempting to turn right at the traffic light will be sent north on High Point Road to Lee Street and Coliseum Boulevard, where they can make a right turn onto Coliseum Boulevard. Southbound traffic on High Point Road will be directed south on High Point Road to Ellington Street.

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The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body. For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov.