Weekend’s big events mean big traffic jams

New Year’s weekend will feature three big sporting events and countless parties in South Florida, but driving to them, or around them, will be a whole different ballgame.

The advice is the same for fans, party-goers, and commuters: start out early to avoid traffic jams. Friday: The Capital One Orange Bowl between Michigan and Florida State University kicks off 8 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium. Organizers are advising motorists to stay off Interstate 95 between Miami and the Golden Glades interchange between noon and 9 p.m. Friday, because of the anticipated convergence of team buses with police escorts, fans and commuters.

“There’s still going to be rush-hour traffic but if we manage it and people can find alternate routes to I-95

then that helps things,” said Larry Wahl, vicepresident of communication for the Orange Bowl.

From Broward, alternate routes include Interstate-75, Florida’s Turnpike, University Drive, U.S. 441 and Federal Highway.

Miami-Dade’s options include the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike, Palmetto Expressway, U.S. 441, Collins Avenue, Biscayne Boulevard and any through avenues from Northwest 27th to 67th. Saturday: New Year’s

Eve parties spring up all over South Florida. If you have a little too much fun and can’t drive home, Tow to Go will provide safe transport to anyone who calls 855-286-9246 until 6 a.m. Monday, according to the Automobile Association of America.

But beware, the Florida Highway Patrol and other police agencies will be looking for impaired drivers as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign that runs

through this weekend.

Sunday: The Miami Dolphins and the Miami

Heat play at home. The playoff-bound Dolphins and New England Patriots clash in the final game of the regular season at 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium. Road access to Hard Rock Stadium should not be as challenging as for the Orange Bowl, but there is expected to be more traffic than for the average Dolphins game.

And the Miami Heat host the Detroit Pistons 6 p.m. at American Airlines Arena. The streets around Hard Rock Stadium and southbound I-95 to Miami should see a surge of Sunday night traffic as fans leave the Dolphins game and/or head to the Heat game that follows.

Extra police will be directing traffic around these sporting events. For game day traffic information go to https://fl511.com/#:Alerts