Going to see pope? Bring your walking shoes - & your patience

We have now heard once again from both Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and New Jersey transit officials on the plans for the visit by Pope Francis in September.

Here's some advice: Bring your walking shoes. And your patience. A few prayers might not hurt.

First things first: Yes, there will be a fence.

The fence will encompass two areas, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Independence Hall. If you're headed into those areas, you are going to need to pass through magnetometers and other security devices.

There are actually three areas of security in the city.

The first outline basically runs from the Delaware River to 38th Street to the west, and from Girard Avenue north to South Street in the South. This entire area will be closed to incoming traffic starting at 6 p.m. Friday Sept. 25 in Center City and 10 p.m. in West Philly. Something important to note: You will be able to drive inside this box, but if you leave you will not be allowed to get back in until Monday.

Inside the so-called green box there are two more key areas - a secure vehicle perimeter where all vehicles are banned except for designated vehicles. Finally, inside that area there is one more "event perimeter" around the Parkway and Independence Hall, where security will be ramped up even more.

You can get all the details here.

In the meantime, is this: Put on your walking shoes.

Officials there indicated they will close the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and require all pilgrims to walk across the span into Philadelphia and on to the Parkway.

There will be little or no parking in Camden.

The hike can be as little as 4-5 miles, which could take a couple of hours, or as much as an 11-mile expedition, which would take substantially longer.

Officials were pretty blunt about the situation. If you can't handle that kind of a hike, you should seriously consider whether or not to go into the city.

You can read about the Jersey situation here.

On Sunday, make sure you pick up a copy of the Daily Times as we talk to businesses here in Delco that will be in the heart of the action. They sit close to the few train stations that will be open to ferry thousands of the faithful into the city. We'll talk to businesses in Marcus Hook, Media, and Upper Darby.

Don't miss it on Sunday.

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