Road closures, detours in Philly this weekend

Several large events are prompting road closures and detours in Philadelphia this weekend.

The most significant closures will be in effect during two parades in Center City on Sunday.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade will shut down three major streets:

-JFK Boulevard between 16th Street and the Schuylkill from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-16th Street between Market Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from noon to 3 p.m.

-Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th Street and Eakins Oval from noon to 4 p.m.

Also Sunday, the Hoyu Parade will run through Chinatown, leading to closures at 10th and Race streets and the 1300 block of Wood Street for setup, starting at 9 a.m.

The parade, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., will cause traffic to be detoured off its route:

-Wood Street from 13th Street to 10th Street

-10th Street from Wood to Race streets

-Race Street from 10th to 9th streets

-9th Street from Race to Arch streets

-Arch Street from 9th to 11th streets

-11th Street from Arch to Cherry streets

-Cherry Street from 11th to 10th streets

-11th Street from Cherry to Wood streets

Philadelphia police said officers would work to speed up vehicle and pedestrian traffic during both parades, but motorists should expect heavy traffic and delays near the routes.

A number of SEPTA bus routes - 2, 7, 27, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 124 and 125 - will be detoured during the events, starting at 6 a.m.

Other closures and detours will occur during the viewings and services for slain Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson on Friday and Saturday.

Delays should be expected Friday near Francis Funeral Home at 5201 Whitby Avenue, where the first viewing for the officer, gunned down during an attempted robbery in North Philadelphia last week, is taking place.

Police said Whitby Avenue will be closed between Baltimore Avenue and Pentridge Street from 3 to 9 p.m.

SEPTA said the Route 52 bus will be detoured from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, the Route 30 and 42 buses will be detoured from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the Palestra, 235 S. 33rd St., where a second viewing and the funeral service are occurring.

Heavy traffic is expected near the Palestra.

Wilson's burial will follow at Fernwood Cemetery, located at 6501 Baltimore Ave. in Lansdowne. The following streets will be closed during the funeral procession, starting at about noon:

-Walnut Street from Schuylkill Avenue to 63rd Street

-63rd Street/Cobbs Creek Parkway from Walnut Street to 61st Street

-61st Street from Cobbs Creek Parkway to Baltimore Avenue

-Baltimore Avenue from 61st Street to Church Lane

Specific information on the SEPTA detours and routes affected for Friday through Sunday is available at http://septa.org/realtime/status/system-status.shtml