PHISH COVENTRY PRESS ARCHIVE Access To Phish Site To Be Restricted July 31, 2004 - Caledonian Record (VT) By Gary Lindsley There won't be any sneaking around for Phish festival-goers to gain access to the group's farewell performance. Vermont State Police are going to make sure of that. Capt. Real Robillard Friday afternoon said people attending the festival at the airport in Coventry will be restricted to taking one primary route to the site. Those traveling to the festival from either north or south on Interstate 91 will have to take Exit 26. From there, they will travel Route 5 to Routes 5/14 to the entrance, which will be on the right. People attempting to take exits north of Exit 26 to avoid the expected traffic log jams and then travel south on Route 5 will not be allowed to take a left hand turn into the festival site. The actual concert will take place Aug. 14 and 15. Robillard said state police are expecting around 10,000 Phish fans to arrive as early as 4 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 12. State police are advising people to ensure their vehicles' gas tanks are filled up before getting caught in the traffic jams. Phish fans may find themselves caught in traffic jams 20 miles back. However, Robillard said he is hoping the hiring of two parking companies will help reduce traffic backups. When Phish held its festivals in Limestone, Maine, traffic at times backed up for an average of four to five hours. "It has been as bad as 15 hours," Robillard said. "Now, why would anyone sit in traffic that long, I have no idea. "I have said from day one you are going to have traffic," he went on to say. "I compare it to a snowstorm. If there is a snowstorm, stay in. This traffic is going to be heavy." State police are expecting Aug. 12 to be the biggest traffic day, with it slowly easing as the concerts begin. "We will shut roads if we have to," Robillard said. As of Friday, the list of roads to be closed to all traffic but residents, included: Coventry Station, Webster, Airport, River, Pine Hill and Glen roads. "The purpose of closing the roads is to allow residents to move around traffic," he said. Closing the roads also will allow fire department and EMS vehicles to gain access to the festival site if needed. Article Copyright © 2004 Caledonian Record (VT)