San Mateo County officials have called on residents to be patient with the street and highway closures, detours and delays that have been in place since this past Saturday, as world leaders and others arrive in the Bay Area for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, taking place in San Francisco.
Approximately 30,000 conference attendees are expected, including heads of state from the 21 member economies, dignitaries, delegates and members of the media, for APEC Economic Leaders Week from November 11 to 17.
The White House has confirmed that President Joseph Biden will attend.
While San Francisco is the host city, dozens of official and unofficial events and tours are expected throughout the region.
The County is activating its Emergency Operations Center as a centralized location to support local needs and assist regional partners as needed.
San Francisco International Airport is expected to be the main gateway for attendees.
“We can expect numerous caravans of vehicles, as well as short-term closures on highways from SFO to San Francisco,” said Shruti Dhapodkar, director of the county Department of Emergency Management.
“We urge anyone driving or taking public transportation during APEC, especially in North County, to expect delays and check 511.org and other sources for real-time information on delays,” he requested.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to establish a 30-mile no-fly zone around San Francisco International Airport that prohibits most non-commercial flight activities for safety reasons. However, residents can expect increased military, police and helicopter flight activity. Businesses at the San Carlos and Half Moon Bay airports will remain open.
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