4th of July in San Clemente

4th of July means heading to the beach in San Clemente.

At 9 p.m., the city continues its annual tradition, presenting a fireworks display from the Municipal Pier, according to a press release from the city. The end of the pier, opposite the entrance, will close at noon today for preliminary preparation and the entire pier will close 8 a.m. Thursday and remain closed for the entire day. The Fisherman’s Restaurant will be accessible to its patrons.

Ocean access surrounding the pier and access under the pier will be prohibited during the show. It is critical that surfers, body borders and swimmers remain 1,000 feet away from the end of the pier, city officials said. This represents a 1,000-foot perimeter around the entire pier and must be kept clear as a safety precaution to keep people out of harm’s way from the fallout from fireworks.

For pedestrian safety and to avoid major traffic problems, San Clemente Police Services will restrict vehicular traffic between approximately 6- 10 p.m. in the entire lower Pier Bowl area adjacent to the pier.

The lower Pier Bowl will be closed from 5-10 p.m., according to the city. Pedestrians should take caution -- especially with the increased crowds -- to stay clear of the train tracks. The municipal beach and pier will be closed to the public after the fireworks display until Friday morning.

Following the fireworks show, San Clemente Police Services will conduct traffic control and assist people in exiting the Pier Bowl, diverting them in a systematic fashion to freeways and surface streets, states the city’s press release.

There will be three designated routes out of the Pier Bowl, including:

1. Palizada and directed to the freeway at Palizada or north onto El Camino Real (two lanes will be open on El Camino Real).
2. Del Mar and diverted onto Presidio.
   
3. Victoria and diverted southbound onto the freeway at Valencia and Calafia.
   

Although other intersections/streets may not be closed, the city asks that you expect all Pier Bowl streets to be impacted by the exit route. Additionally, during this time the following streets will be closed:

• East Palizada/Seville
  
• East Seville/Del Mar
  
• East Palizada/Puente
  
• East Ola Vista/Palizada
  
• Del Mar/Ola Vista
  
• East Victoria/Ola Vista
  
• El Camino Real/Palizada
  
• Palizada/Estrella
  
• Del Mar/El Camino Real
  
• Victoria/El Camino Real
  
• El Camino Real/Presidio