Indiana University Athletics
Glass Encourages Fans to Arrive Early, Use Alternate Routes for Night Game Against MSU
9/30/2016 9:47:00 AM | Football, General
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass today encouraged Hoosier Football fans to arrive early and use alternate routes to ease traffic congestion for Saturday's 8pm game against Michigan State. Being a night game, it is even easier for fans to arrive early to enjoy tailgating and the many restaurant and entertainment options in Bloomington. Glass also encourages fans to continue to follow IU Athletics accounts on social media to stay abreast of the latest traffic information; sign up for IU Athletics' game day traffic texting service; utilize IU Athletics' new dedicated Uber pick-up and drop-off location, and to utilize traffic related apps on mobile devices to be aware of possible delays and congestion to help fans avoid traffic delays caused by the ongoing construction issues on State Road 37 heading to Bloomington.
"Hosting our Big Ten opener against an opponent like Michigan State should make it an electric atmosphere under the lights at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night," said Glass. "Arriving early and using alternate routes make a huge difference in helping ease traffic problems caused by the on-going construction issues on State Road 37. It should be a great crowd and there is plenty of time for fans to get down to Bloomington early to soak in the gameday atmosphere in and around Memorial Stadium."
Arrive Early and/or Use Alternate Routes
Due to road construction issues on State Road 37 heading to Bloomington, IU Athletics encourages all football fans to arrive at Memorial Stadium as early as possible and consider alternate routes to avoid traffic delays on football game days. While IU Athletics has been actively working with local law enforcement, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to limit State Road 37 traffic congestion on football game days as much as possible, the continuing construction issues will create traffic delays which will get worse closer to kickoff. Parking lots around Memorial Stadium will open a minimum of five hours before kickoff, and Hoosier Village will open three hours before kickoff.
In an effort to improve traffic flow, INDOT will extend green traffic lights along Indiana State Road 37 on game days. In addition, IU Athletics will provide improved signage upon arriving in Bloomington to assist fans traveling to and from the game.
IU Athletics has also worked with INDOT to identify routes to Bloomington as alternates to State Road 37 for persons coming to the games from Indianapolis and points north. Construction on State Road 37 has significantly increased the time it takes to travel from Indianapolis even under "normal" conditions. Gameday traffic will make it worse. IU Athletics has communicated with INDOT throughout the week and has taken the additional step of having Department of Athletics staff members drive each of these proposed routes late this week to get the most up to date information possible on the viability of these suggested routes. While leaving very early can substantially mitigate such delays, particularly if you need to leave closer to game time INDOT recommends considering the following preferred alternate routes.
From Indianapolis and Points North:
• I-70 west to 231-south and then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington. Light construction at mile marker 54 for one mile on I-70W. This may be the best option of these three alternate routes.
• I-65 south to Columbus to State Highway 46 west into Bloomington. There is some construction on portions of I-65, including from mile marker 88 through 101 narrowing to two lanes that could slow traffic on this route.
• State Highway 67 south to Spencer, then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington. Construction around Paragon on 67 could cause delays.
From Points East of the Ohio/Indiana State Line:
• I-70 West to IN SR 3 in New Castle to SR 46 from Greensburg to Bloomington.
Uber Pick-Up and Drop-Off Location
IU Athletics' new dedicated Uber pick up drop off area is located at the parking circle at Bart Kaufman Field. All fans who open the Uber app while at the IU Athletics campus will be directed to that location. Uber has integrated our traffic pattern into their driver app. Uber vehicles will enter and exit the athletics campus at the dedicated entrance at Jordan Ave. and Fee Lane.
Communications
IU Athletics is also enacting a comprehensive communication effort to inform fans of delays, alternate routes, and traffic updates.
IU Athletics staff has been meeting with INDOT officials throughout the summer to discuss the impact of State Road 37 construction issues on gameday traffic. As a result of that collaboration, there is a unified communications strategy to ensure that up-to-date and accurate information is being shared to fans and travelers by all three parties. Representatives from either INDOT and/or the I-69 Development Partners will attend all game day operations meetings with Indiana Athletics. They will also be present on football Saturdays to assist with traffic updates and communications, and I-69 Development Partners will provide an on-call representative to help troubleshoot traffic issues and provide important traffic information. IU Athletics will be aggressively communicating the traffic challenges and ways to address them by purchasing more electronic signs to direct traffic to use alternative routes; dedicating a press box suite to support traffic communication on game days; months of meetings and unprecedented cooperation among local law enforcement, INDOT, and INDOT contractors; communicating with fans on social media; sending traffic related emails to all ticket holders regularly throughout the season; and delivering traffic related texts on gamedays to fans who sign up for the texting service by texting IUFB to 313131. Fans can also sign up for email or text message updates from INDOT by visiting http://bit.ly/INDOTsubscription . Fans are also encouraged to sign up for traffic related mobile apps like Waze, iTraffic, Beat the Traffic, and Traffic Updates.
"Hosting our Big Ten opener against an opponent like Michigan State should make it an electric atmosphere under the lights at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night," said Glass. "Arriving early and using alternate routes make a huge difference in helping ease traffic problems caused by the on-going construction issues on State Road 37. It should be a great crowd and there is plenty of time for fans to get down to Bloomington early to soak in the gameday atmosphere in and around Memorial Stadium."
Arrive Early and/or Use Alternate Routes
Due to road construction issues on State Road 37 heading to Bloomington, IU Athletics encourages all football fans to arrive at Memorial Stadium as early as possible and consider alternate routes to avoid traffic delays on football game days. While IU Athletics has been actively working with local law enforcement, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to limit State Road 37 traffic congestion on football game days as much as possible, the continuing construction issues will create traffic delays which will get worse closer to kickoff. Parking lots around Memorial Stadium will open a minimum of five hours before kickoff, and Hoosier Village will open three hours before kickoff.
In an effort to improve traffic flow, INDOT will extend green traffic lights along Indiana State Road 37 on game days. In addition, IU Athletics will provide improved signage upon arriving in Bloomington to assist fans traveling to and from the game.
IU Athletics has also worked with INDOT to identify routes to Bloomington as alternates to State Road 37 for persons coming to the games from Indianapolis and points north. Construction on State Road 37 has significantly increased the time it takes to travel from Indianapolis even under "normal" conditions. Gameday traffic will make it worse. IU Athletics has communicated with INDOT throughout the week and has taken the additional step of having Department of Athletics staff members drive each of these proposed routes late this week to get the most up to date information possible on the viability of these suggested routes. While leaving very early can substantially mitigate such delays, particularly if you need to leave closer to game time INDOT recommends considering the following preferred alternate routes.
From Indianapolis and Points North:
• I-70 west to 231-south and then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington. Light construction at mile marker 54 for one mile on I-70W. This may be the best option of these three alternate routes.
• I-65 south to Columbus to State Highway 46 west into Bloomington. There is some construction on portions of I-65, including from mile marker 88 through 101 narrowing to two lanes that could slow traffic on this route.
• State Highway 67 south to Spencer, then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington. Construction around Paragon on 67 could cause delays.
From Points East of the Ohio/Indiana State Line:
• I-70 West to IN SR 3 in New Castle to SR 46 from Greensburg to Bloomington.
Uber Pick-Up and Drop-Off Location
IU Athletics' new dedicated Uber pick up drop off area is located at the parking circle at Bart Kaufman Field. All fans who open the Uber app while at the IU Athletics campus will be directed to that location. Uber has integrated our traffic pattern into their driver app. Uber vehicles will enter and exit the athletics campus at the dedicated entrance at Jordan Ave. and Fee Lane.
Communications
IU Athletics is also enacting a comprehensive communication effort to inform fans of delays, alternate routes, and traffic updates.
IU Athletics staff has been meeting with INDOT officials throughout the summer to discuss the impact of State Road 37 construction issues on gameday traffic. As a result of that collaboration, there is a unified communications strategy to ensure that up-to-date and accurate information is being shared to fans and travelers by all three parties. Representatives from either INDOT and/or the I-69 Development Partners will attend all game day operations meetings with Indiana Athletics. They will also be present on football Saturdays to assist with traffic updates and communications, and I-69 Development Partners will provide an on-call representative to help troubleshoot traffic issues and provide important traffic information. IU Athletics will be aggressively communicating the traffic challenges and ways to address them by purchasing more electronic signs to direct traffic to use alternative routes; dedicating a press box suite to support traffic communication on game days; months of meetings and unprecedented cooperation among local law enforcement, INDOT, and INDOT contractors; communicating with fans on social media; sending traffic related emails to all ticket holders regularly throughout the season; and delivering traffic related texts on gamedays to fans who sign up for the texting service by texting IUFB to 313131. Fans can also sign up for email or text message updates from INDOT by visiting http://bit.ly/INDOTsubscription . Fans are also encouraged to sign up for traffic related mobile apps like Waze, iTraffic, Beat the Traffic, and Traffic Updates.
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