Major events to cause traffic tie-ups Saturday

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Three major events will slow downtown traffic Saturday.

Atlanta police urge anyone coming into the city to use MARTA if possible.

The Heart Walk starts at 9 a.m. in front of Turner Field. The annual Veterans Day parade downtown kicks off at 11:11 a.m. And Georgia Tech hosts Wake Forest at 3:30 p.m.

The Heart Walk, expected to draw roughly 10,000 people, starts north on Hank Aaron Drive, west on Auburn Avenue, south on Courtland Street, east on Mitchell Street, south on Capitol Avenue and west to Pollard Street, where it finishes.

The parade, also expected to draw in the thousands, will close Peachtree Street from Pine to Marietta streets; West Peachtree Street from Pine to Peachtree streets; Marietta Street from Peachtree Street to Centennial Olympic Park Drive; and Centennial Olympic Park Drive from Marietta Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Police said they'll strictly enforce all traffic and parking laws by ticketing and impounding illegally parked vehicles. For more information, call the Special Operations division at (404) 209-5260.