Transport concerns about major events at the stadium are to the fore again this week after recent complaints about the exclusive nature of a commercial sponsorship agreement between Dunedin Venues Management Ltd and Dunedin Taxis.
Road closures for test events at the stadium before and during the Rugby World Cup tournament games affected vehicle access, parking, and traffic flows around the venue and the changed layout of the State Highway 88 route to Port Chalmers.
DVML operations manager Coryn Huddy said he expected the "vast majority" of the crowd would walk to Forsyth Barr Stadium for Friday night's concert.
Drop-off points for motorists were available at marked sites around the stadium at Gate D in Union St opposite the North Stand and also at the Gate A access point off Anzac Ave.
Temporary traffic management plans would be in place at Albany St, Butts Rd, Union St, and Anzac Ave for the event to help manage vehicle and pedestrian flows around the stadium, he said.
There would be no road closures, although traffic diversions would be in place, restricting vehicle access along Anzac Ave and Union St to a one-way single lane, while southbound traffic from Port Chalmers would be directed around Butts Rd.
"We want to slow traffic access to a manageable flow around the stadium. We expect upwards of 34,000 people to be making their way to and from the venue."
Full access from State Highway 88 to the stadium's main car park would be available for vehicles, although parking would be extremely limited given the expected crowd numbers.
The main concern for traffic management planners was trying to avoid mass pedestrian movements along Anzac Ave, given the road would remain open to vehicles, Mr Huddy said.
An alternative pedestrian route along Parry St, from behind the Hocken Library, to Minerva St and across a purpose-built walkway over the Water of Leith, had been seldom used by crowds during stadium events.
"We'd like to encourage people to use this route to get access to the venue and help free-up Anzac Ave for vehicles." A temporary crossing for pedestrians on SH88 near the Hocken Library would be managed by police.
Friday evening was normally a busy traffic time and there was some uncertainty about how traffic measures would work given the large numbers of pedestrians expected to be en route, he said. The temporary traffic management measures are scheduled to be in place from 4pm until midnight.
