Blankenship Funeral Procession Route, ParkingInformation

                       TRAFFIC ADVISORY 
    BLANKENSHIP FUNERAL PROCESSION ROUTE, PARKING INFORMATION

     The funeral for Ohio State University police officer Michael 
Blankenship will affect local traffic Friday (2/14) at several 
times and locations.  Nearly 1,000 police officers from 
throughout Ohio, neighboring states, and other Big Ten 
universities are expected to attend.  Most will be participating 
in a procession from the funeral at Mershon Auditorium on the 
Ohio State campus to the graveside services at Sunset Cemetery, 
6959 W. Broad St.

     It is estimated the motorcade will be about 2 miles in 
length.  It is expected to depart from the Ohio Union parking 
garage about 12:15 p.m. and arrive at the cemetery about 45 
minutes to an hour later.  The route is north on High Street, 
west on Lane Avenue, south on Riverside Drive, west on Trabue 
Road, south on Rome-Hilliard Road, and west about 3 miles on West 
Broad Street to the cemetery.

     In addition, there will be a short motorcade leaving from 
the Shoemaker Funeral Home, 2830 Cleveland Ave., at 9:30 a.m. and 
arriving at Mershon Auditorium about 15 minutes later.  This 
should have minimal impact on other traffic.

     Drivers not attending the funeral are advised to avoid High 
Street in the campus area tomorrow morning from about 9 a.m. to 1 
p.m., as traffic is likely to be backed up as funeral traffic 
enters and leaves the parking garage.

     Those attending the funeral on campus are asked to park in 
the Ohio Union garage, located just south of Mershon Auditorium 
on North High Street.  The garage may be entered from High Street 
or College Avenue.  The first two floors will be reserved for 
marked police cars taking part in the motorcade, the third and 
fourth floors for other vehicles planning to be in the motorcade, 
and the fifth and sixth floors for funeral guests who are not 
going to the cemetery.  As the procession forms, cars will be 
directed out of the garage onto High Street, beginning with the 
first floor.  Guests not taking part in the procession are asked 
to delay their exits until the procession vehicles have departed.  

                              #

Contact: Ruth Gerstner, University Communications, 292-8424, or 
Beth Kelley,Transportation and Parking, 292-9944.


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Thu, 13 Feb 1997 13:54:05 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.