Huge downtown crowds, traffic interruptions and the rerouting of traffic are forcing at least two government agencies to close shop during the Free Trade Area of Americas summit in downtown Miami.
Friday, court officials announced the Dade County Courthouse, 73 W. Flagler St., and the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW First St., would be closed Nov. 20 and 21.
Also Friday, the U.S. Postal Service said it will suspend some of its operations when the summit begins.
Though the street closures are not finalized yet, the postal service said it will halt operations at The Metro Postal Store, 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., from Nov. 15 through Nov. 22
The agency also said that downtown deliveries will continue -- with the likelihood of earlier deliveries -- though some mail collection boxes will be temporarily moved.
The FTAA is expected to draw delegates and staff from 34 nations and tens of thousands of protesters, for the Nov. 20 and 21 summit at the Hotel Intercontinental. Related meetings and activities start Nov. 17.
A number of businesses in the area already have decided to close, move employees to other offices or allow them to work from home. Carnival Cruise Lines will move its ships to Port Everglades for the week, and Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line are moving one ship each.
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