Watching The Barbara Bush Funeral Procession Can Be Difficult

HOUSTON, TX — Folks north of Houston who wish to pay their respects to former first lady Barbara Bush during her funeral procession Saturday better make plans ahead of time, and not just try to park along the highway or service roads.

Law enforcement officials in Waller County, Navasota and College Station have announced they will not allow drivers to park on Highway 290 or SH 6 — or their service roads — before or during the Bush funeral motorcade on Saturday.

The funeral procession will run from Houston to College Station and proceed through Memorial Park. The motorcade will go north on Westcott, then up Highway 290, north SH 6 through Hempstead and Navasota and then into Brazos County and eventually College Station via Texas Avenue. The procession will turn left on George Bush Drive, and right into the library on Barbara Bush Drive.

Here's what some law enforcement agencies have posted:

Waller County Sheriff
On behalf of The Sheriff and The Waller County Sheriffs Office our condolences are with the Bush family.
We have not, as of yet received any confirmed details of a procession coming through Waller County.
The only instructions we have at this time, are to keep Highway 290 and Hwy 6 cleared of vehicles. If you are wanting to park, seek a parking lot. Do not park along the Highways. Thank you all and God Bless.

Navasota Police
On Saturday, April 21st after 1 p.m., Mrs. Barbara Bush’s funeral procession will be traveling through Navasota. The City of Navasota has been notified that vehicles will not be allowed to stop, stand or park along Highway 6 including the frontage roads. This is to allow the motorcade to freely travel through our area. If citizens wish to pay their respects, the Navasota Police Department is asking for motorists to stay off of state right of way. Parking may be allowed on private property with the approval of the property owner. Citizens can expect a large law enforcement presence and there is potential for significant travel delays during this time.

College Station
The motorcade will travel northbound on Texas Avenue from Highway 6 to George Bush Drive, then travel westbound on George Bush Drive to Barbara Bush Drive.
It is estimated that over 50 emergency vehicles will be involved, with officers controlling traffic at intersections along the route to allow passage. Traffic on Texas Avenue and George Bush Drive, as well as parking lots and cross streets along the route, will be impacted as officers block major intersections. Traffic will be limited until the motorcade passes.
It is anticipated that citizens wishing to pay tribute to Mrs. Bush will be along the route as well, and these factors have the potential to impact travel in and around the motorcade route before the motorcade proceeds through College Station.
If citizens are interested in parking in parking lots and standing on sidewalks as the motorcade proceeds along the route, it is requested that they be in place by 2:00 PM. The George Bush Library complex will not be open to the public.

All major intersections along the route will be closed as the motorcade proceeds through College Station. The intersections that will be closed will begin at Highway 6 at Rock Prairie Road to Texas Avenue at George Bush Drive. Once the motorcade begins traveling on George Bush Drive, all major intersections will be blocked until the motorcade reaches Barbara Bush Drive.
Highway 6 Southbound at the Rock Prairie Road exit and split will be shut down as well.
After the motorcade proceeds through College Station, the route will re-open for normal traffic.
Parts of the roadway could be affected for up to two hours.
Here is a map of the motorcade route and where citizens may stand to view the motorcade is available here.
The College Station Police Department is asking the public to plan accordingly for possible delays and to avoid travelling in impacted areas.

There are also business along the route that are allowing folks to park and view the procession.

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Image: Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush, the wife of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and mother of the 43rd, George W. Bush, lies in repose at St. Martin's Episcopal Church on April 20, 2018 in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Bush died on April 17 at the age of 92. (Photo by Richard Carson - Pool/Getty Images)