Expect traffic tie-ups tonight in S. Phila.

Expect the highways around the South Philadelphia sports complex to be busy this evening, as baseball fans and concertgoers compete with folks heading to the Shore.

Volume on the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), which connects to the Walt Whitman Bridge, normally swells on Friday afternoons in late spring and summer.

Tonight at 7:05, however, the Phillies expect a sellout for a matchup with the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. The only tickets left as of early afternoon: 500 standing-room tickets were to go on sale at 4 p.m. at the First Base Gate ticket windows.

Then at 8 p.m., rockers Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood (once half of the '70s super group Blind Faith) will perform at the Wachovia Center. Tickets were still available this afternoon through www.comcasttix.com.

Those going to the sports complex are asked to use public transit or carpool - or arrive early. SEPTA is beefing up service on the Broad Street Line, including adding "sports express" trains. Check www.septa.org for more information.

Starting at 4:35 p.m., Phillies fans can enter the park through the Left Field Gate and watch batting practice or stroll through Ashburn Alley. Other gates were to open at 5:35 p.m.

Also, a Block Party starts at 5 p.m. at the AT&T Pavillion for early arrivals at the Wachovia Center.

For ballpark-related traffic tips and parking maps, go to www.phillies.com and click on "Citizens Bank Park," then "directions and parking."

Shore travelers might check road conditions at traffic.com (http://go.philly.com/traffic) and consider using the Ben Franklin (before 8 p.m.) or the Commodore Barry Bridge.

At 8 p.m., the two right eastbound lanes of the Ben Franklin will be closed until 5 a.m. tomorrow.

Fortunately, no concert is planned for tonight at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden - a factor that is bound to come into play on many coming weekends.