Traffic patterns for July 4 celebration in downtown Wilmington

Huge crowds are expected at Friday’s firework show in downtown Wilmington.

If you’ve attended in the past, you know about the traffic.

Last year people had quite a wait trying to get out of downtown.

This year the city is trying something different. Chestnut Street will be closed between Third and Front to allow pedestrians to walk to the festivities.

Once the event is over, Wilmington police will divert all traffic parked south of Chestnut Street towards Market Street, Dawson Street, and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

Cars parked north of Chestnut will be diverted towards the MLK parkway and the Isabel Holmes Bridge.