Sitka closes downtown streets for Independence Day weekend

Downtown Sitka's two main corridors will be off-limits to vehicles for much of the Independence Day weekend, the City and Borough of Sitka announced Wednesday. Closures run from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5. Residents, families and visitors heading downtown for the festivities should plan ahead: parking will be restricted and routes will shift across all three days.

Katlian Street closes daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 3 through July 5, between Lincoln Street and the pedestrian crosswalk near Totem Square. The street reopens each evening, but overnight parking inside the closure zone is prohibited all three nights.

On Saturday, additional closures affect Lincoln Street. No parking will be permitted on Lincoln Street beginning at 9 a.m. between Lake Street and Harbor Way. Lincoln Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from College Drive to Harbor Drive to accommodate the parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Around 3 p.m., the closure narrows to the stretch between St. Michael's Cathedral and Harbor Drive, and parking on Lincoln Street from St. Michael's Cathedral to the Lake Street intersection resumes after the parade. That remaining segment reopens fully at 6 p.m.

The closures cut through the heart of Sitka's compact downtown, affecting access to Totem Square, St. Michael's Cathedral and the harbor waterfront during one of the city's busiest tourist weekends.

The July 4 parade is part of a long-running community tradition. Visit Sitka describes it this way: "Join the party celebrating our nation's birthday featuring a parade, a Coast Guard search and rescue demonstration, and the Sitka Fire Department vs. Coast Guardsmen water fight."

Motorists should plan alternate routes, follow all posted signs and barricades, and follow directions from public safety personnel. The city apologized for the inconvenience and asked for patience. Questions can be directed to the Sitka Public Works Department at 907.747.1804.