What’s the traffic plan for the Orange Walk in downtown KC? Police send mixed signals
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas City officials gave differing descriptions of expected traffic impacts for the.
- KCPD said it will shut streets when large crowds gather to separate cars from pedestrians.
- The city had not received a permit request by Wednesday, per Public Works spokesperson.
Kansas City officials have offered differing descriptions of what traffic impacts drivers should expect when thousands of Dutch soccer fans march through downtown Thursday for the Netherlands’ World Cup fan walk.
During a Wednesday news conference, Kansas City Police Department Maj. Abigail Martinez said streets would be temporarily shut down as crowds gather for the parade down Grand Boulevard and warned commuters to expect traffic.
“Part of keeping people safe in large crowds is keeping vehicles from mixing with those crowds,” Martinez said. “We will have streets shut down when we start to see those crowds gather.”
Martinez compared the event to a championship parade, noting that unlike Chiefs or Royals celebrations, participants would be moving alongside the procession rather than watching from the sidelines.
But when asked whether drivers should expect rolling closures, escorts or other traffic-control measures, another department spokesperson, Officer Alayna Gonzalez, said those decisions would depend on organizers and law enforcement’s assessment of safety needs.
Because KCPD is not organizing the event, Gonzalez said, the department could not say Wednesday exactly what traffic control measures would be used along the route.
“We will have a law enforcement presence that could look like road closures for the duration of the event, as well as escorts if that is determined to be needed or requested,” Gonzalez said.
As of Wednesday evening, it remained unclear whether that would mean traffic would be temporarily halted, subject to rolling closures or remain open throughout the procession.
Traffic control for Orange Walk in KC
The uncertainty comes less than 24 hours before organizers expect thousands of fans to march through downtown ahead of the Netherlands’ World Cup match against Tunisia, leaving commuters and businesses without a clear picture of what traffic conditions to expect.
According to the Dutch football federation, organizers have worked with Kansas City officials to coordinate the Orange Walk. The association said local authorities are responsible for the permitting process and traffic management.
“The Oranje Fanwalk is being organized collaboratively by the KNVB and the host city,” a spokesperson for the federation said in an emailed statement.
“Traffic management measures, including any street closures and the related permitting process, are coordinated through the local authorities and relevant city departments. As such, decisions regarding road closures and approvals are handled by the city.”
Kansas City Public Works spokesperson Ryan McMonigle said the city had not received a permit request for the parade but planned to assist law enforcement as needed along the route.
Parade details before the game
The Dutch Orange Bus will lead thousands of orange-clad supporters as they travel south along Grand Boulevard from the Power & Light District toward Union Station and the FIFA Fan Festival. The march is scheduled to begin around 11:15 a.m. following entertainment from Dutch DJs in the Power & Light District.
During a similar march before the Netherlands’ match in Houston last week, police temporarily closed streets along portions of the route as fans walked roughly two miles from Rice University toward the stadium.
City Council member Jonathan Duncan said Kansas City has embraced fan traditions from around the globe throughout the tournament.
“It’s been beautiful to watch how Kansas City has welcomed visitors from around the globe,” Duncan said. “One way the City welcomed these visitors is by ensuring they are able to practice their team traditions, like banderazos of Argentina in the Plaza, the Algerians and their march in Washington Square Park, and of course the Dutch and their oranje bus along Grand.”
The Netherlands faces Tunisia at Kansas City Stadium at 6 p.m. Thursday.
