Drivers urged to be alert to campus traffic detours

Drivers in the campus area are being reminded that North Charter Street is closed between Observatory and Linden drives due to an underground utility project related to steam and chilled water service.

Observatory Drive is now one-way westbound from Lot 11 at Bascom Hall to Babcock Drive.

Drivers who are heading east on Observatory, including those on mopeds and in trucks, will not be able to proceed beyond Babcock Drive. Two-way access to Lot 26 at Soil Science, just east of Babcock Drive, will be maintained, as will two-way access between Park Street and Lot 11.

University Police central campus Officer Kristin Radtke urges drivers to obey the traffic signs that have been put up along Observatory Drive and at Babcock Drive and Lot 26.

Employees who have permits for parking areas 25 and 26 along Observatory Drive should be aware that they cannot travel eastbound down Bascom Hill to Park Street.

They should plan to head west on Observatory to Walnut Street or Highland Avenue to avoid expected traffic backups on Babcock Drive, Linden Drive and Charter Street, particularly at rush hour.

The utility project is scheduled for completion in October.