Law enforcement talks traffic dos and dont's for SpaceX launch

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — We are just a few hours away from SpaceX's seventh launch.

Law enforcement in South Padre Island and Isla Blanca Park are prepared to handle the influx of visitors. They are offering tips to make sure everyone can enjoy with launch safely.

Cameron County Park Ranger Chief Horacio Zamora said they have enough police presence to ensure Thursday is a safe day and added that thousands of people are expected to arrive on the Island for the launch.

A major backup on the Queen Isabella Causeway was prompted after the last SpaceX test launch in November. Zamora said people setting up right next to the roads to view the launch is another major problem.

Zamora says that they will try to prevent this by putting up a barrier before the launch.

“This red fence, plastic fence is temporary along some part of the road where they don’t want anybody, you know, putting up chairs next to the road," Zamora said. "There is another area closer to I want to say the Christ statue that people are setting up. Just be mindful that there's a road pretty close to you. Be mindful if you bring any children.”

He said they see plenty of traffic issues before and after the launches and asks for spectators to be patient.

“I think going in is not going to be as bad as leaving because we're going to have traffic coming in," Zamora said. "You know, all day they'll slowly start coming in, and then closer to four o'clock, we'll have much more traffic. I don't expect it to be as bad as our last launch because of the weather, but if it is, you know, I think that people should expect to wait a little bit in traffic.”

Zamora adds that extra officers will be in place to direct traffic after the launch and that people should have a good strategy for going in and leaving the area to watch the launch. He says, if weather permits, spectators can see the launch from any area of Isla Blanca Park.

Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Treviño said they will be penalizing drivers for any traffic violations such as parking in a no-parking zone.