November 21, 2007 - by Cynthia Neff | Star-Telegram. There may be gridlock, so please be patient. That's the message Arlington police are stressing to shoppers hoping to visit The Parks at Arlington mall and the Arlington Highlands shopping center this holiday season. .

Police are anticipating a greater impact on traffic than last year, Sgt. Cable Johnson said. Police encourage shoppers to take alternate routes to both locations.

Drivers can reach The Parks by entering north of the main Cooper Street entrance at Pleasant Ridge Road, near the Barnes & Noble or Jason's Deli.

Drivers can exit at the southeast corner of the mall, by the FedEx Kinko's, which leads to a service road and a quick entrance to 1-20 without  having to get on Cooper Street. Johnson said the quickest way to leave the mall will be to head north or west and to avoid Cooper Street.

Visitors to the Highlands are encouraged to enter and exit from Center Street and Arbrook Boulevard. Barricades will prevent left turns out of the Highlands on Highlander Boulevard, and there will be limited access to Matlock Road. Once inside the shopping center, drivers are encouraged to travel in a clockwise direction. There will be signs indicating the preferred direction of travel as well as manned police posts to direct traffic, Johnson said.

Traffic is expected to be high from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and on key dates, including Friday and Dec. 22, 26 and 29.