Street Closure Schedules

Traffic in Salem will be significant during the month of October, particularly on the weekends. The Salem Police Department has provided alternate route information to assist group tour planners, teachers, and motor coach operators who are planning to bring groups to Salem for Haunted Happenings. Please review the map of downtown Salem to find designated motorcoach parking areas.

Listed below is a schedule of special event street closings for the downtown area:

  • A parking ban will be in effect on 10/2/08 on the following streets between 5pm and 9pm. Any vehicle parked in these areas will be towed.
    • Congress Street – both sides from Harbor St. to Derby St.
    • Derby Street – both sides between Congress St. and Lafayette St.
    • Lafayette Street – both sides between Derby St. and Front St.
    • Front Street – both sides
    • Washington Street (from New Derby Street to Lynde Street)
    • Essex Street between Liberty St. and Hawthorne Blvd.
    • Washington Square – both sides in front of the hotel.

  • The following roads will be closed on 10/2/08 from 6pm until 9pm.
    • Congress Street will be closed from Harbor Street to Derby Street.
    • Derby Street will be closed from Congress Street to New Derby Street.
    • Commuters will not be able to use Route 1A between Dodge St. and Brown Street which includes Derby Street, Hawthorne Boulevard and Washington Square at the Common entrance.
    • Also closed to traffic will be New Derby Street, Front Street and Washington Street between New Derby Street and Church Street.
    • Essex Street will also be closed at Washington Street.

  • Roads will re-open at the conclusion of the parade at approximately 9:00pm.
  • Essex Street from Liberty Street tHawthorne Boulevard will be closed Saturday and Sunday October 11 & 12 (check this page for additional weekend and Halloween closure schedules for this portion of Essex Street).
  • Sunday, October 19th, at approximately 3:00pm the MDA Motorcycle Run will travel into Salem (check this page for updated road closure information).
  • Friday, October 31, starting at 5:00 pm, all downtown streets will be closed.

Downtown Resident Parking Initiatives for October 31st.

The Blaney Street ferry parking lot and the former St. Joseph's Church parking lot are available for downtown resident parking. New this year, the City of Salem Parking Department will be restricting the Crombie Street and Sewall Street metered lots for downtown resident only parking on the 31st. Obviously, there is a limited amount of spaces and downtown residents will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. In order to gain entry into these lots you must obtain a downtown resident sticker at the parking garage office on Liberty Street. The office is open from 6:30am to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday.~ There is no charge for this resident sticker all that is required is that you bring your drivers license and your car registration with you.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to call the Salem Police Department Traffic Division at 978-744-0171, ext. 115.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.