ATLANTA — Final preparations are in place at the Carter Center in downtown Atlanta for the arrival of former President Jimmy Carter on Saturday afternoon and for the public to come pay their respects.
“For him to be here and have the ability for people to pay their final respects until Tuesday morning, it’s really important for us and his family,” said Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander.
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Alexander says the former president will be lying in repose from Saturday evening until 6 a.m. on Tuesday. She told Channel 2′s Tom Regan they have no idea how many people will show up to say a final goodbye.
“It’s truly weather-dependent. We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to come and pay their final respects. For me, he was probably the most consequential president of my time,” said Alexander.
Police put up security barricades around the property to prevent vehicles from driving in. There will be no onsite parking, so visitors are encouraged to walk, ride or use MARTA.
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“They will provide shuttles from the King Center Station. There will be plenty of signage to inform people where to go,” said Alexander.
Police have set up a roadblock near the Carter Center on North Highland Avenue and East John Lewis Freedom Parkway.
People who live in neighborhoods near the Carter Center worry about parking congestion from people heading to pay their respects to the former president.
Later Tuesday, the state funeral events will move to Washington, D.C. where Carter will lie in state in at the U.S. Capitol. His funeral is set for Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral before his family returns him to Plains, Ga. for a private burial.
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