Purdue News

May 13, 1999 Purdue offers travel tips for commencement visitors WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University officials are urging the 24,000 people expected to attend commencement ceremonies this weekend to allow extra travel time because of a major road construction project near the West Lafayette campus. The widening of North and South River roads just east of campus has slowed traffic and will continue to do so for at least a year. The work has restricted traffic through the construction zone to one northbound and one southbound lane on River Road and to one eastbound and one westbound lane on State Street. In addition, the Harrison Bridge exit ramps for North River Road have been closed. The bridge carries U.S. 231 over the Wabash River between Lafayette and West Lafayette. "We're urging people to leave early and to count on delays, even if they follow routes that might appear to take them around construction areas east of campus," Joseph Bennett, vice president for university relations, said. "The best way to get to campus on time is to allow at least an extra hour of driving time." Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday (5/15-16). Approximately 4,775 students will earn degrees during the four ceremonies. Recommended directions to avoid driving through the bottlenecks follow: From Chicago, take I-65 south to Exit 193 for U.S. 231. Turn right (south) onto U.S. 231 and proceed to U.S. 52. Turn left (east) and follow U.S. 52/231 into West Lafayette. There will be an exit bearing to the right for Northwestern Avenue. Follow this about two miles to reach the campus. From Indianapolis, take I-65 north to Exit 172 for State Road 26. Turn left (west) and follow St. Rd. 26 to Sagamore Parkway (U.S. 52). Turn right (north) onto U.S. 52 and follow it to the second stop light, which is Union Street. Turn left (west) onto Union and follow it through Lafayette and over the Wabash River, where it becomes Fowler Avenue and eventually Northwestern Avenue near campus. From South Bend, take State Road 31 south to St. Rd. 25. Follow 25 to U.S. 52 in Lafayette. Turn right (west) on 52 and go to the fourth traffic light, which is Yeager Road. Turn left (south) on Yeager and go to the first light, where you should turn left onto Northwestern Avenue, which will take you to the campus. From Terre Haute and Crawfordsville, take U.S. 231 north to Lafayette, where 231 becomes Fourth Street. Follow Fourth Street through downtown Lafayette and beneath the overpass at Union Street. Follow the signs for "West Lafayette" and "U.S. 231" that direct you, through a series of right turns, onto the Harrison Bridge over the Wabash River. This will turn into Fowler Avenue and eventually Northwestern Avenue near campus. Source: Joseph L. Bennett, (765) 463-1731; joe_bennett@purdue.edu Writer: Frank Koontz, (765) 494-2080; fkoontz@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page