Police: Road, parking disruptions as Purdue Half Marathon takes place Saturday (Oct. 16)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University police are informing motorists of traffic and parking disruptions on campus the morning of Saturday (Oct. 16) due to the Purdue Boilermaker Half Marathon.

About 2,500 runners who will compete in either a 5K or a half marathon are expected to descend on campus, said Purdue police Sgt. Nick Crosby. The half marathon begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:10 a.m. at the intersection of Cherry Lane and Steven Beering Drive. It is expected to last until around noon.

"It's going to be a very busy day on campus," Crosby said. "So, while our main objective is to protect everyone, we want to accommodate motorists as we can. We just ask that people follow the directions of the police officers that will be stationed at various intersections and be aware of what's going on around them."

Essentially, everything from north of State Street to east of McCormick Road and south of Stadium Avenue to Northwestern Avenue will see vehicle traffic restrictions. Parking in the core of campus could also be restricted as a result of these road impacts. The event courses and a list of road closures with approximate times are available online. Disrupted areas include:

* From the south, police will block northbound access where University Street, Russell Street, Martin Jischke Drive and MacArthur Drive intersect with State Street.

* From the east, Stadium Avenue will be open from Northwestern Avenue, but use caution as runners will cross all intersections on the south side of Stadium Avenue from University Street to McCormick Road.

* From the west, eastbound traffic for Cherry Lane and northbound traffic at the Cherry Lane and McCormick Road intersection will be blocked. Eastbound access on Third Street at McCutcheon Drive will be blocked, as well.

* From the north, southbound traffic on Steven Beering Drive at Cherry Lane will be blocked, and southbound traffic on John Wooden Drive will be restricted during the start of the 5K portion.

* Cherry Lane will be closed from about 7:50 a.m. until the last runners enter onto northbound McCormick Road. Cherry Lane westbound from Northwestern will then open, but the eastbound lane of Cherry Lane will remain closed for the duration of the Half Marathon and 5K.

Faculty and staff who are working on Saturday should plan to arrive early or seek alternate parking locations.

Crosby said roads will reopen as the runners clear them.     

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

Source: Nick Crosby, 765-494-8221, nacrosby@purdue.edu