IU Athletics Thanks Fans for Following Traffic Recommendations and Encourages Continued Early Arrivals and Use of Alternative Routes
/IU Athletics Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass today publicly thanked Hoosier Football fans for arriving early and using alternative routes for the first two IU home football games and encouraged them to do so again for this Saturday's 4:00 pm game against Western Kentucky University. Gathering information from INDOT, law enforcement, representatives on the IU Athletics Fan Advisory Board, and regular fans IU Athletics is pleased that gameday traffic disruptions seem to have been fairly minimal through the first two home games due to fans arriving early and following traffic recommendations, particularly utilizing alternative routes.
In an important development for Saturday's game only, fans travelling between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, September 19th are advised to not use the alternative route of State Highway 67 south to Spencer, then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington. Due to a local parade in Elletsville, there will be possible delays using this route with only one lane of westbound and one lane of eastbound traffic on SR 46 (known locally as Temperance Street) in Elletsville from 11:00 a.m. to the end of the parade at approximately 2:00 p.m.
Fans are again encouraged to arrive early for tailgating, the festive gameday atmosphere in Bloomington, and to minimize traffic congestion along Indiana State Road 37. IU Athletics also continues to recommend that fans use the suggested alternative routes again this Saturday.
"While the road construction along Indiana State Road 37 has caused delays and inconveniences for us all, we cannot thank our fans enough for arriving early and using different routes to get to Memorial Stadium on football Saturdays," said Glass. "We continue to work with INDOT, I-69 Developers, and law enforcement to minimize traffic disruptions, but our fans have made the experience of travelling to and from Memorial Stadium as smooth as possible."
As a new communication feature, fans should also tune in to WHCC 105.1 for regular gameday traffic reports while travelling to Memorial Stadium.
IU Athletics has taken several measures to address gameday traffic disruptions caused by the ongoing construction along State Road 37. These measures include working with Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and I-69 Developers; identifying alternative routes; enhanced communication; encouraging fans to leave early; working with local police; parking enhancements to help with traffic; and departure strategies.
Working with INDOT and I-69 Developers
In an effort to improve traffic flow, INDOT will extend green traffic lights along Indiana State Road 37 on game days. INDOT and I-69 Development Partners are working to limit lane restrictions on State Road 37 on gamedays. In addition, IU Athletics has provided improved signage upon arriving in Bloomington to assist fans traveling to and from the game.
IU Athletics staff met with I-69 officials throughout the summer to discuss the impact of State Road 37 construction on gameday traffic. As a result of collaboration between IU Athletics, I-69 Development Partners, and INDOT, 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 have attended all game day operations meetings with Indiana Athletics. They are also be present on football Saturdays to assist with traffic updates and communications, and I-69 Development Partners are providing an on-call representative to help troubleshoot traffic issues and provide important traffic information.
Identifying Alternative Routes
IU Athletics has also worked with INDOT to identify routes to Bloomington as alternatives 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. On a good day, it takes approximately one hour to drive from 465 and 37 to Memorial Stadium. Through the first two IU football home games of the season, these alternative routes have helped minimize traffic delays for fans travelling to and from Memorial Stadium. While leaving early as discussed below, can substantially mitigate such delays, if you need to leave closer to game time INDOT recommends considering the following alternative routes.
• State Highway 67 south to Spencer, then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington (estimated travel time for this route 1 hour and 20 from Indianapolis) Fans travelling between11am and 2pm on Saturday, September 19th are advised to not use the alternative route of State Highway 67 south to Spencer, then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington. Due to a local parade in Elletsville, there will be possible delays using this route with only one lane of westbound and one lane of eastbound traffic on SR 46 (known locally as Temperance Street) in Elletsville from 11:00 a.m. to the end of the parade at approximately 2:00 p.m.
• I-65 south toward Columbus to State Highway 46 west into Bloomington (even with construction on I-65, estimated travel time for this route 1 hour and 20 minutes from Indianapolis)
• I-70 west towards 231-south and then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington (estimated travel time 1 hour and 45 minutes from Indianapolis)
IU Athletics staff personally travelled the proposed routes and requested assistance from INDOT to program lights along those routes on gamedays to improve traffic flow.
Enhanced Communication
Fans can opt in to the new text alert system by texting IUFB to 313131 to begin receiving alerts from IU Athletics. Only pertinent information surrounding travel, traffic, weather and emergency situations will be shared on the new text system. In just two weeks, over a thousand IU season ticket holders have opted into the text alert system.
For live up-to-date traffic information on game day, fans can follow @OurIndiana on twitter or opt in to the text alert system as IU Athletics will post updates for travelers from those mediums as advised by all parties involved.
IU Athletics has been posting updated travel information on IUHoosiers.com, issuing traffic related press releases throughout the year, and sending traffic updates via e-mail to all ticketholders. Fans should also tune in to WHCC 105.1 for regular gameday traffic reports while travelling to Memorial Stadium.
Encouraging Fans to Arrive Early!
Fans are encouraged to arrive early to allow extra travel time to games. Parking lots will be opened a minimum of five hours prior to kickoff time for each home contest. For exact times of the opening of lots each week, follow @OurIndiana on twitter for that information. Early arriving fans are encouraged to enjoy live entertainment and food in the Hoosier Village, tailgate, or take advantage of the wide variety of restaurant and bar options in Bloomington before kickoff.
Working with Local Police
In another effort to help ease and maintain a more consistent traffic flow around the stadium, Indiana Athletics has worked with the IU Police Department to assign traffic officers to the same location throughout the entire season to keep the traffic pattern consistent each and every football game day. The football game day traffic pattern will be the same as in recent years and will go into effect a minimum of two hours prior to kickoff. Fans should be advised that Woodlawn Avenue, south of 17th Street is closed and under construction.
Parking Enhancements to Help with Traffic
Prepaid parking passes are available for purchase and are recommended to guarantee a parking spot within the athletic campus on football game days. There is also a $5 discount for prepaid passes. Call the IU Athletics ticket office at 1-866-IUSPORTS to purchase a season or single game pass.
In order to ease and allow for several hundred more parking spaces for fans, Indiana Athletics staff and all game day personnel will park in lots outside of the athletics campus this season.
Police and staff will limit access to parking lots to those with appropriate credentials in order to avoid backups and delays associated with people in the wrong
In addition to the lots in and around the athletic campus, there are three parking garages on campus that are available to the public on football game days. Those lots include:
• Fee Lane Garage near Kelley School of Business
• Poplars Garage, entrance on 6th Street between Grant and Dunn Streets
• Henderson Garage, entrances from Indiana Avenue and/or S. Fess Avenue between 3rd Street and Atwater Avenue
Departure Strategies
Fans are encouraged to stay and enjoy postgame tailgating as lots remain open overnight. Fans should also consider the same alternative routes listed for their travels home after the game.