Traffic closures now in effect on South Beach

Thousands expected to attend Urban Beach weekend

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Traffic closures are now in effect on South Beach for Urban Beach weekend.

Ocean Drive is closed to traffic and Collins Avenue is converted one-way northbound from Fifth to 16th streets.

Washington Avenue is one-way southbound.

Barricades were put up along South Beach on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend Urban Beach weekend.

Kiarra Wells and her three friends flew down from Detroit for the annual extravaganza, and Wells said she's just happy to hit warmer weather.

"It's nice. It's so pretty," said Wells. "It's different from Michigan. We have tropical drinks here."

Local restaurants and bars plan to cash in on the holiday, and hope to score big bucks from partygoers.

"It's packed all the time, lots of pressure and good tips," said Donato Mongio, a waiter on South Beach.

This year, police will have 600 officers on hand to keep crowds safe and under control.

"We're a tourist destination," said Miami Beach police Sgt. Bobby Hernandez. "We have to make sure we disrupt residents as least as possible, our business owners are happy making money and visitors have a good time."