BRIGHAM CITY -- City officials are expecting 10,000 to 30,000 visitors on July 31 for groundbreaking ceremonies for the new temple being built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Director of Emergency Services Jim Buchanan said there also will be 1,500 to 2,000 invited guests.
"Within 12 hours from the announcement of the date of the groundbreaking, we were told that hotels in Brigham City were booked," Buchanan said.
Buchanan told the city council that emergency personnel are taking this opportunity to test the city's emergency plan.
The city will use a traffic plan similar to what is used during the yearly Peach Days celebration. Main Street and 13 intersections will be closed. The city has obtained permission from churches, schools and the community center for parking.
"We are hoping to minimize disruption as much as possible and are looking at busing our invited guests in," Buchanan said.
The police force has canceled all vacations and time off for July 31. Tremonton police and the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office will send personnel.
The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 9 a.m. July 31 at 250 S. Main St. President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Boyd K. Packer will attend, and a program of approximately 45 minutes has been planned.
Those with tickets are asked to be in their seats by 8 a.m.
The temple will be built on a downtown city block across from the tabernacle commonly known as Central Square. Central Elementary School once stood on the block but was torn down several years ago by the Brigham City Redevelopment Agency to bring development to the downtown area before the LDS Church bought the property.
Speakers will be added so the sound can be heard across the street on the tabernacle grounds. In addition, the ceremony will be broadcast in local stake centers.
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