WESTPORT — With the return of fireworks over Compo Beach to celebrate the July 4 holiday, after a two-year hiatus, officials have issued the following traffic guidance for Thursday’s event.

The annual fireworks, organized by the Westport Police Athletic League and town’s Parks and Recreation Department, were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Rain date is Friday, although the Thursday forecast looks promising with warm, clear conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

To avoid congestion caused by both heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic heading to Compo — particularly affecting roads south of Greens Farms Road, between Compo Road South and Hillspoint Road — police recommend spectators arrive early.

FOLLOWING MEASURES WILL BE ENFORCED

Compo Beach will close for routine daytime use at 4 p.m. Thursday. Only vehicles with fireworks passes will be allowed to remain. Ticket holders should stand by their vehicles during this period so parks staffers can collect their tickets.

The beach will reopen at approximately 5 p.m. for ticket holders’ vehicles to begin entering.

FOR THOSE WITH TICKETS

Access to the beach will be via South Compo Road only. Hillspoint Road, south of Greens Farms Road, will be open only to residents who live south of that intersection.

Attendees should display tickets prominently on dashboards so they can be seen clearly. Tickets will be collected on entering the parking area.

All ticket holders must be at Compo Beach by 9 p.m. No traffic will be allowed south of the Minute Man statue after that time.

FOR THOSE WITHOUT TICKETS

Vehicles without a ticket will not be able to travel any closer to Compo Beach than the Minute Man statue.

People traveling to the beach via Uber, Lyft or taxi will be directed straight past the Minute Man statue on Compo Road South. From there, they will have to walk from Compo Road South and Soundview Drive to the beach. Return rides will not be allowed until after 11 p.m. because of one-way traffic leaving the beach area.

AFTER THE FIREWORKS

Just before the display ends, two-way traffic will be suspended on Compo Beach and South Compo roads to the intersection of Greens Farms Road. Two lanes of northbound traffic on those streets will be enforced until the beach is cleared.

Police urge drivers in the Compo Beach area to exercise caution before and after the fireworks Thursday since congestion is anticipated from heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic.