September 4, 2007

Utilities project closes University Street

Through Thursday (Sept. 6), motorists attempting to travel north from State Street are being detoured to Waldron Street. University Street northbound can be accessed by traveling east on Third, Second or First streets from Waldron.

"We prefer that drivers utilize Third Street to access University Street," said Daniel Pusey, Purdue utilities engineer. "This will reduce congestion near the construction site and should be the safer alternative because the intersection of University and Third streets is served by a traffic signal."

CityBus routes are being diverted back onto University Street by traveling on First Street, which has been changed into one-way eastbound between Waldron and University for the duration of the construction project. Alleys running both north and south from this stretch of First Street are closed to through traffic. Parking areas normally accessed via these alleys should be accessed from either State or Second streets.

Traffic on westbound State Street merges to one lane beginning at or near Oval Drive.

That backed up traffic past Grant Street on Tuesday morning. A flagman was deployed to the intersection of State Street and Oval Drive to help buses to merge back onto State Street. Another flagman was deployed at State and University streets to assist pedestrians across State Street.

In addition, the Indiana Department of Transportation changed the cycle of the traffic signal at that intersection to improve westbound traffic flow on State Street. Purdue police have increased patrols to enforce prohibitions against students driving on campus, particularly on Oval Drive around the Memorial Mall.

Additional changes during construction include:

* The sidewalk on the south side of the one-way stretch of First Street is closed to pedestrians.

* Parking on the east side of University Street from State Street to First Street is eliminated.

* Parking on both sides of Waldron Street between State and First streets is eliminated.

* Parking on the north side of First Street between University and Waldron streets is eliminated.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Source: Daniel Pusey, Purdue utilities engineer, (765) 494-3415, dipusey@purdue.edu

John Cox, Purdue Police captain of special services, (765) 496-8351, jkcox@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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