MAPS & DIRECTIONS

Click here for a pdf version of the Downtown Rome Parking Brochure
Click here for a pdf version of alternative parking locations in downtown Rome for events at The Forum.

NEWS RELEASE  
April 22, 2008

  STORM CULVERT WORK BEGINS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 AT THE FORUM; PARKING WILL BE INTERRUPTED FOR NEXT 18 MONTHS

ROME, GA -   Parking will be disrupted at The Forum and surrounding downtown areas beginning Wednesday, April 23, 2008 due to the upcoming construction projects in the area. Visitors to the downtown area should expect traffic delays and parking space availability to be at a minimum during this time. 

As a starting point of the project, a culvert will be replaced which runs across The Forum parking lot and ties into 3rd Avenue and Broad Street. That repair work will begin Wednesday and is scheduled to take 6-8 weeks. Once the storm culvert work is completed, construction will begin on The Forum parking deck – a 4 story, 380 space deck jointly funded by the City of Rome and Floyd County.

“The end result will be phenomenal - - but we’ve got some growing pains to get through,” said Blaine Williams, Floyd County Assistant Manager. “This will have an impact on Forum visitors and some downtown businesses.”

Visitors to The Forum should seek alternative parking in locations such as the West 3rd Street parking lot and in Barron Stadium’s parking lot. Both of those lots are less than a 3 minute walk via the Chief John Ross Memorial Bridge (pedestrian bridge). Visit The Forum’s web site at www.forumevents.org for additional parking lot locations.

During the interruption, please contact the Downtown Parking Office for alternative parking.  Long term parking spaces are available for lease in several private lots for employees while short term and daily parking for visitors is available at the Sixth Avenue Parking Deck.  For visitors needing Broad Street parking for longer than two hours, please secure a parking pass from the Parking Office or the Visitor Information Center, located on Civic Center Drive.  The interruption is only temporary with a tremendous reward of additional parking, greater convenience and accessibility.

Proposed timeline:
April – June 2008: Storm Culvert Work
June – February 2009: The Forum Parking Deck
February – August 2009: Riverfront Improvements, Phase 1
July 2009-September 2009: Town Green

Sources of the Riverfront Improvements, Phase 1, Town Green and The Forum Parking Deck include the City of Rome, Floyd County, Georgia Department of Transportation Enhancement grants and 2006 SPLOST funds.

For more information, please visit www.floydcountyga.org, www.romega.us or www.forumevents.org.

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Directions:
From Atlanta/Cartersville

Take I-75 North to Exit 290 (Canton/Rome). At the end of the Exit, take a left. (You will see a Cracker Barrel on your right). You will travel 2 to 3 miles (past Wal-Mart on your left) and come to a red light. You will be facing Waffle House. Take a left and then immediately take a right onto old Highway 411 South/20 West. Go approximately 3 miles to the Rome Exit. Travel 25 miles and follow the signs into downtown Rome. 411 South/20 West becomes Turner McCall Blvd. (You will pass K-Mart—Home Depot—CVS Pharmacy on your right) At the fifth traffic light, Checkers on your right and Georgia Power Building (brown tile building on your left), turn left onto Broad Street. Then you will go to the fifth traffic light and turn right onto Third Avenue and turn right. Third runs directly into The Forum parking lot.

From Calhoun/Dalton/Chattanooga

Take I-75 South to the Exit 312 (Rome/Fairmont). At the end of the exit turn right. You will be on Highway 53. Highway 53 becomes North Broad Street then becomes Broad Street in Downtown Rome. You will cross Highway 27/Turner McCall Blvd. At this intersection, you will see a Checkers on your left and a Chevron Station on your right. Then you will go to the fifth traffic light and turn right onto Third Avenue and turn right. Third runs directly into The Forum parking lot.

From Summerville/Chatooga County

Take Highway 27 South into Rome. This highway becomes Second Avenue once it enters Rome. You will go past Floyd Medical Center and Safe Lock & Key (on your left) and you cross the Oostanaula River Bridge. At the first traffic light in downtown Rome, turn left. This is Broad Street. At the first light, take a left onto Third Avenue. This runs directly into The Forum parking lot.

From Carrolton/Bremen/Cedartown

Take Highway 27 North into Rome. This highway becomes Turner McCall Blvd. At the fifth traffic light, (Checkers on your right and a brown tile building on your left), turn left onto Broad Street. Then you will go to the fifth traffic light and turn right onto Third Avenue and turn right. Third runs directly into The Forum parking lot.

From Atlanta Airport/Rockmart

Camp Creek Parkway/US 278 exits from the Airport. On this road you will travel through Powder Springs, Hiram, Dallas, and then to Rockmart. Turn right onto US 101 North in Rockmart. US 101 become Dean Avenue in Rome. Stay in the right lane. Highway 27 North will connect with Turner McCall Blvd. At the fifth traffic light, (Checkers on your right and a brown tile building on your left), turn left onto Broad Street. Then you will go to the fifth traffic light and turn right onto Third Avenue and turn right. Third runs directly into The Forum parking lot.