April 27, 2016  

Purdue police offer route and parking suggestions for commencement ceremonies

Pass parking

The area shaded in gold is the suggested parking lot for the 4 p.m. Friday (May 13) commencement ceremony (Image provided by Purdue Parking Services)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University police are urging motorists to get an early start and follow route and parking suggestions for the May commencement ceremonies as road construction continues near campus.

The closure of State Street west of the River Road intersection in West Lafayette will cut off a main artery to campus. In addition, the first of the six commencement ceremonies will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday (May 13), while the workday continues on and around campus.

For the 4 p.m. Friday ceremony, police urge motorists coming from the east to take state Route 26 to Tapawingo Drive in West Lafayette, and from there, turn left onto South River Road; take South River Road to 231 and turn right, which will lead to Martin Jischke Drive onto campus. Motorists are urged to park in the Discovery Park lot, at 280 Nimitz Drive, near the roundabout at Jischke and Harrison Street. A shuttle service will be available to take people to Elliott Hall.

Police are suggesting a different route for those traveling from the east for all other ceremonies, Purdue police chief John Cox said. Motorists should take state Route 26 to North River Road and take the Purdue Univ. West Lafayette exit to get onto Fowler Avenue and then on to Northwestern Avenue. For these ceremonies, parking is more readily available at the Northwestern Avenue Parking Garage (540 Northwestern Ave.) and University Street Parking Garage (201 N. University St.).

"We're encouraging people to give themselves a little extra time to get to campus, but if they follow these suggestions this will really be their easiest routes," Cox said.

Motorists coming from the north and south can take normal routes, he said.

In addition to the 4 p.m. commencement on Friday, an 8 p.m. ceremony also will take place. Other ceremonies include 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday (May 14); and 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (May 15). 

For the 4 p.m. Friday (May 13) ceremony, police offer the following routes suggestions (updated May 12) to reach the event parking lot at 280 Nimitz Drive:

* If arriving from the north, take I-65 South to Exit 193 for U.S. Highway 231 South. Follow signs for 231 (approximately 23 miles) to turn north on Martin Jischke Drive.

* From the south, take I-65 North to Exit 158 and head west on State Road 28 to U.S. Highway 231 North. Follow signs for 231 (approximately 11 miles) to turn north on Martin Jischke Drive. The parking lot is located at 280 Nimitz Drive.

* For all other ceremonies, police advise parking in the garages at 540 Northwestern Ave. and 201 N. University St.

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu 

Source: John Cox, 765-494-8221, jkcox@purdue.edu 

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