Rain forces air show to relocate parking

Frequent rain has made the field normally used for spectator parking at the Vectren Dayton Air Show unusable this year.

Instead, the show will provide parking on paved lots with the help of Dayton International Airport and police, the air show announced Tuesday. Parking at the event, which starts Saturday and continues through Sunday, costs $10 per car and $20 per bus or recreational vehicle, according to the show.

The former Emery/UPS Freight Facility located on Old Springfield Road north of the airport will be used as the alternate parking site. All spectator parking including General Admission, P-Lot and VIP will be directed to the alternate site.

The air show will have 60 large shuttle buses to move visitors from the lot to the event space, according to the show. The shuttle will move on an “express route” inside the airport’s perimeter, according to the air show.

The show recommends visitors arrive before 10 a.m. to get a space and shuttle ride quicker.

The quickest way to get to the paved parking lot is to use Exit 32 for the Airport Access Road off Interstate 70. Visitors will be able to follow digital signs that will direct them to drive west on West National Road, north on Dog Leg Road and east on Old Springfield Road, according to the air show.

Spectators can also use Exit 64 on Interstate 75 to Northwoods Boulevard and follow signs. The route from I-75 could be affected because Dixie Highway will be down to a single-lane, according to the air show.

News Center 7’s Chief Meteorologist McCall Vrydaghs said the weather this weekend will be partly sunny and warm, with temperatures in the low 80s. The humidity is expected to be high and expect a few pop-up showers and storms.

Vandalia Police ready

The Vandalia police department will be allhands-on-deck this weekend, according to Lt. Dan Swafford.

The police department will be in control of the traffic flow that comes in and out of the Air Show at the Dayton International Airport.

Traffic flow throughout the day is normal, with peak hours of congestion between 11 a.m. and noon and again between 3:30 and 5 p.m.

“In rush hour times, our traffic numbers increase, but there is almost never a true “back-up” situation due to traffic volume,” Swafford said.

“If you have a parking pass, please put them on your dashboard so officers can see you,” Swafford said.

It is important to note that the number of lanes to enter the Air Show will decrease the closer it gets the closing of the show, while the number exit lanes will increase.

“We would also encourage drivers to leave their cell phones alone and just pay attention to the officers on scene,” Swafford said.

The crews have more than 30 years of practice with Air Show traffic and the best advice officials said is to leave early and use the routes directed by officers.

“We know the traffic can get a little hairy at certain points in the day as the roads leading in and out of the airport can only handle a finite number of vehicles,” Swafford said. If people pay attention to the directions of the officers, they will enhance their chances of a smooth commute.”

The Vandalia fire department, Butler Twp. police department, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Montgomery County Sheriff ’s Office will assist.