Traffic nightmare a concern: Bonnaroo promoters work to fix problems

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

In light of last year’s traffic nightmare, Bonnaroo officials say they are doing things differently this year.

The festival, which begins today in Manchester, caters to an estimated 80,000 people, and getting all those people to one spot does present its challenges. The three-day event makes Coffee County’s population triple in size.

“Traffic is what’s on everybody’s mind after last year,” said Ashley Capps, one of Bonnaroo’s promoters. “I can say a tremendous amount of work has gone into solving the problem.”

Bonnaroo promoters advise anyone planning to use Interstate 24 this weekend to travel an alternate route if possible.

Capps said among major changes is there will be two major entrances this year instead of one, and the number of process points also doubles from 18 to 36.

Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said his deputies will be working overtime to patrol the Bonnaroo grounds and ensure orderly conducted. Graves also said Bonnaroo officials are reimbursing his department so the overtime hours won’t have to be paid with taxpayer dollars.

In addition to Coffee County deputies and Tennessee Highway Patrolmen, Bonnaroo has also hired its own security firm.

“I want people to know we’re going to enforce every state law,” said Sheriff Graves. “This is not a situation where people can forget the law and do what they want to.”

From Warren County’s standpoint, Sheriff Jackie Matheny said the Warren County Sheriff’s Department would be highly visible during the weekend. Matheny said that several directions to Bonnaroo lead motorists through Warren County.

“It’s no secret a lot of drugs came through here last time,” said Matheny. “And, with this many people coming through here, it’s just a good idea to pick things up a little bit.”

Bonnaroo
Here are the main bands scheduled to perform:
Today, June 13
5:30 p.m. – Sonic Youth, Ben Harper
6:15 p.m. – Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones
7:30 p.m. – Kid Koala
8:30 p.m. – Neil Young
Saturday, June 14
1 p.m. – Liz Phair
2:15 p.m. – Nickel Creek
3 p.m. – Emmylou Harris
5:30 p.m. – Allman Brothers Band, Garage A Trois
8:30 p.m. – Widespread Panic
Sunday, June 15
3 p.m. – Galactic
4 p.m. – G. Love & Special Sauce
5:30 p.m. – James Brown
6 p.m. – SuperJam
8:30 p.m. – The Dead