Traffic safety, preparation encouraged as fall semester nears

As Boiler Gold Rush and the start of the semester draw closer, Purdue is reaching out to students, faculty and staff to encourage increased diligence, attention to traffic and preparation, particularly related to the closure of northbound Interstate 65.

Purdue's West Lafayette students attending Boiler Gold Rush will move into their on-campus housing on Aug. 17-18, a Monday and a Tuesday, accommodating a shifted Boiler Gold Rush schedule designed to improve student engagement and connect orientation more closely to the start of the academic term. Boiler Gold Rush will take place Aug. 19-22. Residence hall contracts for returning students begin Friday, Aug. 21. The first day of classes is Aug. 24.

Purdue is alerting all students to the closure of northbound Interstate 65 and advising them to seek alternate routes to campus, to expect delays, and to watch for help and guidance from state, area, local and Purdue law enforcement agencies. All students are being notified via email and through Purdue’s social media accounts of the traffic issues, and reminders will be sent via email and social media over the next two weeks.

Purdue faculty and staff are being reminded about possible disruptions to traffic, parking and other activities in the central campus area during the move-in days.

Employees should anticipate delays and give themselves additional time for their morning commutes and/or to travel around campus for meetings during this period. Departments and supervisors are asked to exercise discretion and an extra degree of understanding if the additional activity during the workday causes unavoidable delays for workers. 

During the move-in days, the central campus area will experience heavy traffic that may cause delays or disruptions to normal business. The most-affected areas include State Street from Martin Jischke Drive to Airport Road; Stadium Avenue between Northwestern Avenue and McCormick Road; Martin Jischke Drive from State Street to Stadium Avenue; Third Street from Martin Jischke Drive to McCormick Road; and all side roads in the vicinity of residence halls.

On Tuesday, the new student induction event will take place at 4-4:45 p.m. in Mackey Arena. Before and after that period, about 6,000 undergraduate students and 6,000 parents will be walking from the residence halls areas to the arena, then returning to the halls and parking areas.

John Cox, Purdue chief of police, said area, local and Purdue law enforcement are working together to staff intersections and stay on top of traffic issues. Purdue on Monday and Tuesday also will provide real-time tweets from LifeAtPurdue and on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/PurdueUniversity to alert of any traffic issues or suggested route changes during Boiler Gold Rush.

For information on Monday and Tuesday of any traffic delays or issues around campus, motorists can call 765-496-6947.

Additional information about the Boiler Gold Rush, move-in and how it will affect those on campus is available online at www.purdue.edu/bgr. Those with immediate questions should contact Dan Carpenter, director of student success, at dwcarpen@purdue.edu.

The most updated information on detours and traffic from the Indiana Department of Transportation can be found here:

* On the Web, visit http://indot.carsprogram.org or http://pws.trafficwise.org

* Follow INDOT on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/INDOT_WCentral or http://www.twitter.com/TrafficWise

* Follow INDOT on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/INDOTWestCentral or http://www.facebook.com/IndianaDepartmentofTransportation

* Dial 511 from your mobile phone or 800-261-ROAD (7623)

* Watch for dynamic message boards on interstates leading to I-65 northbound