The Virgin Islands Police Department informs the community on the traffic and parking restrictions during the various 2024 Carnival events. These restrictions are to ensure the safe and expeditious movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow.
Water Sports Activities (Boat Race) and Panorama
Sunday, April 28
- Motorists are advised to always drive at the posted speed limit, especially during this event, be alert and drive with care and caution due to the substantial number of pedestrians that will be crossing Veterans Drive during this event.
- Pedestrians are encouraged to utilize the crosswalks and comply with the crossing guards at the location.
- Motorists are restricted from parking and/or waiting at bus stops; they can be utilized for dropping off and picking up passengers.
- Pedestrians are encouraged to be careful and look right-left-right before crossing the roadway, and utilize the pedestrian walk signals if a crossing guard is not at the location.
- If a crossing guard or pedestrian walk signal is not at the location, pedestrians facing a green signal light other than a green turn signal, the pedestrian may proceed across the roadway at a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
- Motorists are advised to avoid parking in vendor spaces and blocking other vehicles
and businesses, in places where they impede or obstruct traffic flow, sidewalks and sidewalk ramps.
Cultural Food Fair
Wednesday, May 1, at Crown Bay, SubBase from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The Addie Ottley Drive will be a one-way road between the areas of PWD and Crown Bay Intersection.
- The actual Crown Bay facility will allow entry through the gate on the western side facing the Training Academy and exit through the side facing the Crown Bay Marina.
Children’s Parade and Adults Parade
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4
- Placement of chairs to view the parade around Educators Park on the sidewalk will be allowed only at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 2. If chairs are there before that time, they will be removed and discarded.
- No blocking of roadways connected to the parade route
- If vehicles are parked impeding traffic or parked illegally on a roadway connected to the parade route, the vehicle shall be removed immediately once the end of the parade has passed that roadway.
- The parade route will be open to vehicular traffic (to set up areas with food, drinks, chairs and other items to watch the parade) until 8:30 a.m. All vehicles must be moved from the route by 8:45 a.m.
Openings will be at the following areas:
o Maude Proudfoot Drive (Former Jarvis School)
o Kongens Gade (Government Hill)
o Norre Gade (Veterans Park)
o Strand Gade (Market Square)
- Once gates and/or barricades are in place, no one shall open and/or remove them.
The following roads will be open until 8:30 a.m. to allow traffic to flow and allow citizens to put out their food, drinks, chairs and other items to watch the parade.
- Commandant Gade
- Fort Pladsen
- Hospital Gade
- Kongens Gade
- Maude Proudfoot
Designated openings utilizing the small gates will be in the following areas to allow the public to access both sides of the road on the parade route:
- Rear of the Governor Review Stand and Government Development Bank
- Fort Pladsen and Lille Tarne Gade
- West side of the former Senior Citizen Reviewing Stand and west side of Credit Union
- East side of the former Senior Citizen Reviewing Stand and Hospital Gade
- Kongens Gade (bottom of Government Hill) and Education Street Laminated signs marked “EXIT” will be placed at all the openings with plastic ties to make the public aware of the openings.
The Fort Christian Parking Lot will be closed on March 31-May 11, and motorists who utilize the parking are directed towards the downtown area for parking. The VIPD will be lenient with the parking of vehicles in the downtown and surrounding areas during the dates that the parking lot is closed. However, parking in violation of the restrictions will not be tolerated. VIPD is asking the public to adhere to the parking regulations and restrictions. All parking restrictions will be enforced, and vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
Daytime Parking
- The timed parking areas will not be enforced during the time that the Fort Christian Parking Lot is closed.
- Parking is allowed along the southern side of Norre Gade from the former Wet Willy’s to the Professional Building.
- Parking is allowed on the waterfront apron. However, when leaving from the apron all vehicles shall make a left turn only.
- Parking is allowed in the usual parking areas.
Daytime Restrictions
- No parking, standing, or stopping in disabled persons parking spaces.
- No blocking of sidewalk access ramps, fire hydrants, crosswalks, other vehicles, driveways, entrances of homes and businesses, and public roads.
- No parking less than 15 feet from a corner
- No parking in specifically designated spaces
- Absolutely NO PARKING on Dronningens Gade (Main Street)
Nighttime Parking
- Parking is allowed on the western side of Hospital Gade from Veterans Park to the former J. Antonio Jarvis School.
- Parking is allowed along the southern side of Norre Gade from the former Wet Willy’s to the Professional Building.
- Parking is allowed on the waterfront apron.
- Parking is allowed in the normal legal parking areas.
Nighttime Restrictions
- No parking, standing or stopping in disabled persons’ parking spaces
- No blocking of sidewalk access ramps, fire hydrants, crosswalks, other vehicles driveways, entrances of homes and businesses, and public roads
- No parking less than 15 feet from a corner
- No parking in specifically designated spaces
- No parking on the southern side of Main Street
- No parking on the eastern side of Hospital Gade from Veterans Park to the former J. Antonio Jarvis School
- No parking in areas where the normal flow of traffic is restricted on that roadway
- Absolutely no parking in front of the senior citizens reviewing stand on Norre Gade
- No parking on Norre Gade adjacent to the Grand Hotel and EDC
- No parking at bus stops
- No parking along the sidewalk on the southern side of the Carnival Village
Vehicles in violation of parking restrictions will be towed.
Remember to lock and secure your homes and vehicles. Also, do not leave any valuable items in your vehicles.
J’ouvert
Thursday, May 2 along Veterans Drive
- No minors or individuals who do not possess a valid driver’s license are allowed to operate vehicles in the J’ouvert.
- No consumption of alcohol and/or prescription medication during the operation of a vehicle or within the last eight hours because it will impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely.
- No one other than authorized personnel by the chief of police is allowed to sit on the speakers on the trucks.
- All vehicle operators will be properly seated behind the steering wheel of the truck with the driver’s door properly closed.
- No one is allowed to stand or sit around the fifth wheel or between the cab and the trailer of the vehicle.
- Motorists not participating in the J’ouvert are asked to utilize alternate roadways to get to their destinations, such as Harwood Highway, Kronprindsens Gade, Back Street, Main Street and other roadways routed towards the Northside.
Parades
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 on Main Street
- No minors or individuals who do not possess a valid driver’s license are allowed to operate vehicles.
- No consumption of alcohol and/or prescription medication during the operation of a vehicle or within the last eight hours. Alcohol and drugs will impair your ability to operate a vehicle safely.
- No one other than authorized personnel by the chief of police is allowed to sit on the speakers on the trucks.
- All vehicle operators will be properly seated behind the steering wheel of the truck with the driver’s door properly closed.
- No parking on any of the southern and northern roads that are connected to the parade route in such a manner that the roadway is blocked from emergency vehicles.
- No chairs and/or tents are allowed on the parade route including Educators Park and the sidewalk in front of Educators Park before 6 p.m., Thursday, May 2. Any chairs placed before the date and time will be removed.
Horse Race Day
Friday, May 3, at Clinton E. Phipps Racetrack
- Vehicles are allowed to park in the Nadir Basketball Court area. Vehicles traveling from Bovoni will traverse over the hill after the Bovoni Pet Shop. That roadway will be a one-lane roadway in front of the racetrack. The only exception is for large vehicles traveling to Bovoni Landfill. There will be no parking on the roadway in the area of Clinton Phipps Racetrack.
The Virgin Islands Police Department is asking motorists to operate their vehicles safely and prudently with care, courtesy and consideration for life and property, and at the posted speed limits. All motorists who utilize Veterans Drive, Kronprindsens Gade, Main Street, Norre Gade and Hospital Ground need to identify an alternate route to their destinations during the Lionel, Roberts Stadium Events, J’ouvert and Parade days.
The month of April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Police Department will be conducting driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) initiatives throughout the month; we urge motorists that if they consume alcohol, please do not drive.
Remember:
► If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a sober driver, and give them your keys.
► If you have consumed alcohol and you are impaired, call a taxi, friend or family member.
► Motorists, please report drunk drivers on the roadway to law enforcement officers or call 911.
► Wear your seatbelt and place children under the age of 8 years old in the recommended child restraint, All children under the age of 13 shall be placed in the rear seat and restrained.
The Virgin Islands Police Department wishes everyone a safe and happy Carnival!
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The Virgin Islands Police Department
Office of the Commissioner
AAF Justice Complex, 5400 Veterans Drive St. Thomas, 00802 * 774-2211.
