TRAFFIC ALERT: Coachella Fest Fans Roll Into Town, Roads to Avoid

Coachella music festival attendees will begin filling the Empire Polo fields Thursday, as camping sites open up in the morning.

Though the festival doesn't start until Friday at noon, camping opens at 9 a.m. Thursday.

An estimated 80,000 people will attend the festival each day, if numbers stay consistent with last year's attendance figures released by Indio police.

The festival's first weekend will run this Friday through Sunday, and then again next weekend, April 19-21.  Each weekend, there is a series of road closures and traffic is expected to be heavy in the area.

"There will be approximately 25,000 guests shuttled into and out of the concert venue from various locations throughout the Coachella Valley to help ease traffic conditions," an Indio police traffic advisory states.

According to Indio police, the following roads will be closed both weekends:

• Avenue 49 between Hjorth Street and Monroe Street
• Avenue 50 between Madison Street and Jackson Street
• Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50
• Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52

Police suggested these alternate routes:

• North and South travel, use Washington Street, Jackson Street, Calhoun Street and Golf Center Parkway
• East and West travel, use Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Avenue 48 and Avenue 52

In addition to the above listed road closures, local drivers should expect delays on the following roadways:

• Jefferson Street, southbound, from I-10 to Avenue 52
• Washington Street, southbound, from I-10 to Avenue 52
• Monroe Street, southbound, from I-10 to Avenue 52
• Highway 111 at Jefferson Street
• Highway 111 at Monroe Street
• I-10 exit eastbound at Jefferson
• I-10 exit eastbound at Monroe