Next month's free trade summit in downtown Miami will probably snarl traffic, but police say they will work to keep the area open for business as much as possible.
Authorities are focusing on a 50-block area from Northeast 12th Street south to the Miami River and from Biscayne Boulevard to Northwest Second Avenue. Traffic in that area may be periodically detoured to guarantee security for the summit, which is being held at Hotel Inter-Continental, and accommodate the tens of thousands of protesters expected to demonstrate.
The Free Trade Area of the Americas summit is set for Nov. 20 and 21, but protesters are planning demonstrations and events around the downtown area for the entire week.
''We expect that there will be some inconveniences,'' said police spokesman Lt. Bill Schwartz. ``The feeling is that the positives will outweigh the negatives.''
Some local businesses are already wondering how they'll be able to stay open with customers, suppliers and delivery drivers tied up in traffic.
''Is UPS going to even be able to get in here to pick up my books? I don't know,'' said Raquel Roque, owner of Downtown Books, on Southeast First Street, just a couple blocks from the Inter-Continental.
``But I can't lose a week when I'm shipping for Christmas.''
Summit organizers and police say they're working on plans in an effort to keep downtown open except in extreme emergencies.
In the event of violent protests, police may have to close some or all of the core downtown area completely, but officials say they are optimistic they can avoid that.
''We don't anticipate that they will have to close their businesses,'' said Luis Lauredo, director of the FTAA Miami Ministerial and Americas Business Forum. ``We're asking them not to.''
The only major road closure planned for the whole week is the Interstate 95 exit ramp for Miami Avenue, Biscayne Boulevard and the Dupont Plaza.
For those who succeed in navigating intermittent detours, parking may be quite a problem. The median lots on Biscayne Boulevard across from Bayfront Park and the city's surface lots at Dupont Plaza will be closed, as will the Dupont Plaza Hotel garage.
Police have rented out at least three private lots managed by MDM Parking for the entire week, said Tony Galarce of MDM.
Schwartz said the police need the lots to store vehicles and equipment so that they can respond to any security threats quickly.
Commuters hoping to get downtown on public transportation will probably face some headaches, too.
The Bayfront Park and Riverwalk Metromover stations will be closed that week. Police suggested that the county transit agency close those stations because they are elevated above areas where protesters might be congregating.
''We don't want to have people up on a platform above the heads of the police,'' Schwartz said. ``If someone were of a mind to harm a police officer, that would give them an opportunity.''
Some businesses have elected to close because of security concerns -- officials are expecting some of the same activists who rioted in 1999 in Seattle during the World Trade Organization.
Roque said she didn't think her small, independent book store would be targeted by the rioters.
If her customers, suppliers and deliverers can just get through the traffic, she'll be fine.
UPS officials say they'll do their best.
''We've been delivering packages and messages and information and goods since 1907,'' Dan McMacken said. ``Our drivers are customer service experts. They can figure out ways to get people's goods to them no matter what's going on in a given town.''
During the week of the event, officials will post traffic updates on the county website, www.miamidade.gov/oem/closings
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