President Bush's visit today to Birmingham should not be too disruptive to motorists, but those hoping to catch a glimpse of the president may not have much luck.

"It's one of those kind of quick in-and-out visits," said J. Christopher Murphy, a Birmingham-based special Secret Service agent for Alabama and Mississippi.

The president is coming to town to make two speeches, one on the nation's economy, at the CraneWorks building, and a second at a $2,000-per-person luncheon at the Sheraton Birmingham to raise money for his re-election campaign. Neither event is open to the general public.

Area law enforcement agencies and Secret Service agents will cooperate to provide security for the president's visit from mid-morning until early afternoon.

Murphy said the presidential presence will require some road closings. But he said, "I don't think it's going to be a major interruption. It won't be at real critical times in people's workdays and we'll make every effort to shut (roads) down for as small a period of time as possible to get him safely in and out of places."

Today's visit will be the third Bush has made to the Birmingham area since becoming president. In 2001, he made an environmental speech at Oak Mountain State Park and later raised money for U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions' re-election campaign. In 2002, he spoke on the economy and raised money for then-U.S. Rep. Bob Riley's successful gubernatorial bid.

During Bush's visit, members of the Alabama Sierra Club and environmental and labor activists will hold a rally in Linn Park. A news release says the event will focus on the risks posed by the Army's chemical weapons incineration program in Anniston and call on Bush "to protect Alabama's air, water, health and safety."

Larry Darby, president of the Atheist Law Center, said a protest against Bush's "faith-based initiatives" will also be held at Linn Park today from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.