Purdue News
Purdue News
Slowdowns are expected with more than 60,000 fans making their way to the stadium for the 2:30 p.m. game, particularly as motorists negotiate construction areas that are part of the community's ongoing railroad relocation project, said Purdue police Capt. Steven R. Dietrich.
"Local drivers and out-of-town motorists should do themselves a favor and avoid the intersection of State Road 25 and U.S. 52 at all costs," he said.
At that intersection, both highways are down to one-lane traffic each way as crews construct new railroad bridges over the two highways as well as new approaches. Dietrich said contractors have promised to open two additional U.S. 52 lanes on Saturday, but delays still are likely.
He suggested that local motorists should use Harrison Bridge to West Lafayette. He said it has been underutilized in recent football seasons because of construction and related widening of Union Street. That work now is complete.
He said Notre Dame fans traveling south via U.S. 31 and State Road 25 should try this alternate: rather than continuing to Lafayette on State Road 25 and hitting the construction bottleneck at U.S. 52, take State Road 18 westbound at Delphi; go through Brookston, cross Interstate 65, and connect with U.S. 231. Take U.S. 231 south to Montmorenci, then go east on U.S. 52 and watch for directional signs to the stadium.
"All motorists should be patient, obey officers' directions and be alert for unexpected changes in traffic patterns," Dietrich said.
He said an Indiana State Police helicopter will be airborne by late Saturday morning, which will help police on the ground open up bottlenecks and reroute traffic if necessary. He said a reporter from Lafayette radio station WAZY (96.5 FM), which broadcasts Purdue football games and a pregame show, also will be in the helicopter to provide on-air traffic updates.
Dietrich said motorists also should be aware of parking changes near the stadium. Public parking on Purdue's Kampen Course, the former North Course of the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, will be unavailable due to course renovation. Public parking now will be centered on the intramural fields at the west end of campus.
Representatives from all Greater Lafayette police departments worked cooperatively on this fall's football traffic planning, Dietrich said.
Source: Capt. Steven R. Dietrich, (765) 494-8221
Writer: Greg Zawisza, (765) 494-2086; e-mail, greg_zawisza@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
