Harbor Havoc: San Pedro Suffers Navy Week Carmageddon
Nose end of a Boeing FA18 Superhornet on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln is shown as it docked in San Pedro, Calif. for Navy Week on July 25, 2011. The huge carrier arrived in port Monday morning for events continuing through Sunday. It's the first time Navy Week is being held in Los Angeles. There are 21 Navy Weeks nationwide this year. (AP Photo/The Daily Breeze, Brad Graverson)
Navy Week's free USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier tours attracted thousands of visitors on Wednesday, inciting its own Carmageddon on San Pedro, the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the Harbor Freeway (110). Vehicles inched along the 110 for hours in hopes of boarding the first aircraft carrier to dock in the Port of Los Angeles in over 20 years, according to The Daily Breeze.
"There's so much interest in Navy Week, but it's causing logistical problems for us," said Los Angeles Port Police Chief Ronald Boyd.
The Navy estimates that approximately 4,500 visitors boarded the nuclear-powered vessel; however, port officials suspect more people made it on board.
Anxious tourists were turned away two hours before the 4pm tour end time due to capacity overload. Crews directed latecomers to shorter lines for the minesweeper USS Champion which saw an estimated 2,000 visitors that day.
"We don't know how many people were turned away, but hopefully they'll be able to come back and see it over the next few days," said Phillip Sanfield, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles.
Some tourists have reported that they waited three hours until they boarded a shuttle to see the Lincoln and admit frustration with traffic control. However, visitors who were lucky enough to board the vessel agree that the view was well-worth the wait.
"If you've never been on an aircraft carrier, you should see it," said Craig Yoneyama of Carson. "I probably will never get the chance to see this again."
Tours will resume today, and the port is ramping up in preparation for round two. Though Navy Week started on Monday, yesterday's tours spurred the mass crowds. Seven additional shuttles busing tourists from the cruise terminal to a dock south of Cabrillo Marina should hopefully alleviate long lines.
The Lincoln is not open to the public on Friday, but tours resume over the weekend from 10am-5pm each day. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is viewable from Cabrillo Beach for those who wish to steer clear of lines. The cruiser USS Princeton welcomes tours on Friday and Saturday from 10am-5pm. The destroyer USS Chafee is open from 10am-5pm on Friday.
"We want to make sure the public stays involved by checking on traffic conditions before coming down," Boyd said. "But we are encouraging them to visit and to be prepared for a great show with long lines."
