Open house traffic, parking hints

Visitors attending the university’s Open House this weekend will be able to take advantage of free parking in university lots from Friday evening, Aug. 18, through Sunday afternoon, Aug. 20.

On Saturday, free shuttle buses will be available to transport people between the major event locations, which include the Natatorium fields along Observatory Drive; the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences campus along Linden Drive; the Engineering campus at Randall Avenue and West Johnson Street; and the Memorial Union/Library Mall area.

Motorists may encounter a few areas in which traffic lanes are closed due to summertime construction projects in the campus area. These include:

• The center lane of West Johnson Street between Campus Drive and Randall Avenue.
• The right lane of West Johnson Street between Charter and Mills streets.
• The right lane and bus lane on University Avenue.
• The first block of Walnut Street off University Avenue, which is narrowed due to utility construction.

In addition, there is construction underway on the Engineering campus, but parking lots will be accessible.

Finally, a crane will be blocking the north lane of Highland Avenue in front of the Waisman Center on Saturday while it is lifting a large magnet into the new tower addition at the Waisman Center. Travel between University Bay Drive and Walnut Street will be limited to the south lane. Motorists should watch for flag workers directing traffic and be prepared to stop for oncoming traffic.

Vehicles illegally parked in spaces reserved for the disabled will be ticketed.