Posted, Monday, June 29, 2009 --- 1:49 a.m.

UPDATED Incident report from Madison Police Department:

The 2009 Rhythm and Booms event was held Sunday in Warner Park. The event was well attended, with an estimated 150,000 in attendance. Madison Police personnel dealt with a number of disturbances and fights involving large numbers of youth. Approximately 1 physical arrest was made for Outstanding warrants and 4 citations issued (Resisting, Obstructing an Officer, Underage Drinking and Misdemeanor Theft) .

There was a mechanical failure with the ferris wheel, resulting in people being stranded on the ride, including a police officer who was attempting to assist in stabilizing the ride in order for people to be rescued. Madison Fire personnel responded, and coordinated the rescue of those stranded on the ride. No one was injured in this incident, and State officials will be investigating the mishap.

From the Madison Fire Department:

The City of Madison Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team was called to assist in unloading passengers from a free-spinning ferris wheel at Rhythm & Booms Sunday night.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. when the drive cable of the ride came off of its track.

Midway workers and nearby police officers attempted to unload the 12-14 passengers on the ride by controlling the wheel manually, but the load become unbalanced and they lost control of the wheel.

At that point, the Department's Technical Rescue Team was called to the scene. The team attached ropes to each side of the wheel, securing the ropes to a fire engine on one side, and a semi-trailer truck on the other. Once the wheel was once again secured, the team was able to bring each seat on the ride around and passengers were off-loaded without further incident.

No passengers were injured. Two police officers received minor injuries when the wheel broke free the second time. They were assessed at the scene by Medic 8 and released.

The ferris wheel was immediately shut down and secured. The Department of Commerce was notified of the incident. The Commerce Department regulates carnival rides. An investigator from Commerce is expected to review the incident and inspect the ride on Monday.

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Posted Saturday, June 27, 2009 --- 12:15 p.m.
UPDATED at 12:50 p.m.

All "Rhythm and Booms" activities have been postponed until Sunday because of the threat of severe weather Saturday night.

All events including the fireworks show will run on the same schedule (times) tomorrow, Sunday, June 28.

Vice President of Madison Fireworks Deb McCue says the decision was for public safety purposes. She says organizers didn't want large crowds in the park with no safe place to go if severe weather strikes.

All volunteers are asked to report at the same time tomorrow to fill their shifts.

*****Release from Mayor's office:

Working together with police, fire and Rhythm & Booms organizers, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced today that Rhythm & Booms will be postponed to the rain date tomorrow, Sunday June 28.

Forecasts of severe thunderstorms and lightening through the evening threaten safety at the event. The full event will go forward on Sunday, with events in Warner Park starting at 12:00p.m.

“Public safety is our top priority, and I want to thank Terry Kelly and our Police and Fire Departments for working together to join me in making what we feel is a responsible decision,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. “We’re looking forward to a sunny day and a full event tomorrow. I’ll be at Rhythm & Booms tomorrow with my family.”

Sunday’s forecast is 78 degrees and sunny all day, and Rhythm & Booms will put on a full schedule of events.

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Posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009 --- 8:45 a.m.

Press Release:

A special traffic plan will again be put into effect to handle traffic exiting the Warner Park area after the Rhythm and Booms fireworks display on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The event sponsors anticipate this year’s display to attract more than 250,000 spectators. Following are elements of the plan to guide pedestrians and motorists away from the park area after the event:

• Crossing of and left turns onto Northport Drive will be permitted from northbound School Road. This will serve drivers who have parked west of Warner Park, and south of Northport, and reduce traffic loading on Westport Drive.

• At the Highway 113 (Northport Drive)/Highway M intersection, travelers to Waunakee should use the right lane and travelers to Middleton should use the left lane of Northport Drive as they approach this intersection. CTH M has historically been the roadway that is last to clear after the event.

• ALL westbound Johnson Street/southbound Packers Avenue traffic will be turned left onto N. First Street to access E. Washington Avenue. Southbound Packers Avenue traffic is encouraged to turn left onto International Lane, right on Anderson, and right onto Fair Oaks, for a less congested route to E. Washington Avenue.

• County Trunk Highway CV between Wheeler Road and US Highway 51 will be open only for ONE-WAY traffic, toward Highway 51, after the show. Parking on the shoulders of Highways CV and 51, and Hanson Road, as well as airport lands will be prohibited all day Saturday. The County Sheriff’s Department deputies will patrol these areas.

• More than 200 police officers from the City of Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Department, the State Patrol and surrounding communities and several Madison traffic engineers will monitor the park as well as direct traffic at numerous intersections within several miles of Warner Park after the event.

• City Traffic Engineering Division crews will place special signs and barricades at key intersections to guide motorists and facilitate traffic flow away from Warner Park. Traffic signals in the Isthmus will also be modified to favor westbound traffic, away from the park.

• Kobussen Buses Ltd will operate shuttle buses between Warner Park and the MATC parking lot (3,600 stalls) at Anderson and Wright Streets. Bus service will begin at noon on Saturday with 15-minute intervals. After the event, bus service will be continuous for about 90 minutes after the fireworks. The round-trip fare will be $5.00 (children age four and under will ride free).

Event sponsors will also charge a $4.00 parking fee at the MATC lot. Police will give priority to buses along the route.

• Parking: Six parking enforcement officers will be working in the area. Proper parking is an essential component of the safe and orderly movement of traffic. Please look for signage that may restrict parking on streets. Do not block crosswalks, driveways or fire hydrants. It could cost up to $100 if your vehicle is towed. Parking on private property without the owner’s permission could cost $40.

• Parking is also available at the airport economy lot, for $6.00 per vehicle, but will be payable upon exit and by credit or debit card only.

• Motorists parked in the Warner Park parking lot during the fireworks will not be permitted to exit the lot for at least one hour after the fireworks (approximately 11:30 p.m.). Vehicles parked in handicap stalls will be given priority in leaving the park. Vehicles over 8,000 lbs. including trucks, buses, motor-homes and campers will NOT be permitted in this lot. Paid parking will be available for large vehicles in the Sherman Plaza Shopping Center lot.

A goal of this exit traffic plan is to minimize traffic conflicts and delay for pedestrians and the anticipated 50,000 vehicles attempting to leave the Warner Park area. Spectators may help minimize congestion in the following ways:

(1) Take advantage of the shuttle bus. Arrive early and park in the MATC parking lot to ride the shuttle bus to and from Warner Park.

(2) Ride Madison Metro. Metro will have extra buses at the North Transfer Station, on Huxley at Aberg. Call 266-4466 for schedule and route information. Last bus leaves at 11:30 p.m.

(3) Have patience. Approximately 50,000 vehicles will be arriving during the 12 hours prior to the event. There will be extended delays in moving all these vehicles out of the area in the hours after the event concludes.

(4) Park According to Exit Direction. Motorists who park in the surrounding neighborhoods should park close to the desired exit direction. For example, those wishing to travel to the northwest should park northwest of Warner Park. The attached map illustrates the desired exit traffic flow pattern. Drivers should review this map and choose a parking area that will minimize travel distance and left turns onto main streets after the event.

Suggested Routes from Warner Park:
• To Middleton – use E Washington Ave, Northport Drive or Westport Road
• To Waunakee – use Northport Drive or Westport Road
• To west side Madison – use East Washington Avenue
• To south side Madison – use East Washington Avenue and John Nolen Dr.
• To east side Madison – use Packers Avenue and Highway 30 (Commercial Avenue)
• To I-90/94 – use Packers Avenue to CTH CV, Anderson Street, or Highway 30