Several street closures planned for Kennedy's funeral

(NECN: Michelle Brown, Boston, Mass.) – At Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica, commonly known as the Mission Church, preparations are underway inside and out for the Saturday morning funeral mass of Senator Ted Kennedy. Boston police is also getting ready. Hundreds of dignitaries–including President Obama, all four living former presidents, and 44 U.S. Senators are expected to attend. Some of those security measures include street closures. About a dozen streets in and around the Basilica will be closed Saturday from 7 a.m. to around 2 p.m. Streets that will be closed include Tremont Street from Columbus Avenue to Hunington Avenue Saint Alphonsus Street from Tremont to Huntington and Cornelia Court from Smith Street to Horadan way. Other streets in the area could be closed temporarily on a rolling basis. Commuters in the area should expect delays and choose alternate routes if possible. Kennedy’s funeral mass is invitation only. Police say if you don’t have an invite it’ll be tough to get near the mission church. Boston police say it has sufficient officers to deal with whatever security issues may arise during the funeral mass for Ted Kennedy. But officials say they’ll still take some help from nature.