Expect Weekend Traffic Headaches as Busy Dutchess Route Closes

A major Hudson Valley road will be completely shutting down on Saturday for several hours in the middle of the day.

Officials are warning residents to plan ahead to avoid sitting in traffic as a major roadway shuts down, sending cars into even more congested areas of Route 9.

The closure will happen at 12:40pm on Saturday, March 5 and affect Route 9 and 9D in the Wappingers Falls area. 9D will be closed to traffic from Delavergne Avenue near Cafe Maya all the way to Middlebush Road at the Randolph School.

Traffic will be rerouted for several hours to Route 9, which is expected to see heavy volume during this time.

The closure is to make way for the return of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in the Village of Wappingers Falls. After taking last year off due to the pandemic, the parade is expected to draw a significant crowd. In recent weeks COVID-19 restrictions have all but vanished from the Hudson Valley and residents are more than ready to gather to celebrate.

The road closure on Route 9D will not only cause headaches for drivers on Route 9, but other side roads surrounding the area that will see traffic rerouted from the Village of Wappingers. The worst congestion will happen later in the afternoon after the parade ends and the thousands of people assembled get back on the road.

If you miss out on the Dutchess County St. Patrick's Day parade this weekend, there are other celebrations and parades happening throughout the Hudson Valley during the month of March. Click through for a complete list.