Campus area traffic alert: thousands expected, traffic heavy

Some major events around campus this week and weekend will attract thousands of visitors and likely will have an impact area on parking and traffic. Fortunately, although Thursday and Friday are regular business days for the university, most students are leaving campus for spring break (3/22-26). Traffic and demand for parking will be heaviest in and around the Schottenstein Center, St. John Arena and the Ohio Union. Here is a list of events:

·OHSAA Girls’ Basketball Tournament – Schottenstein Center
Some 4,000 – 7,000 guests per session are expected.
*Thursday (3/18), 1-9:30 p.m.
*Friday (3/19), 1-9:30 p.m.
*Saturday (3/20), 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
For the Girls’ State Basketball Tournament activities, all Scarlet lots and the Gray 3 lot (adjacent to the Schottenstein Center) will be reserved for pass parking only. All other non-reserved, public parking will be in the remaining Gray lots and the Buckeye lots, located on Fred Taylor Drive just south of Ackerman Road. Cost is $5 per vehicle ($10 for campers and buses) per entrance. Free shuttle service will be provided between the Buckeye lots and the Schottenstein Center. Camper and bus parking will be available in the Buckeye #1 lot, located on Fred Taylor Drive across from the Jesse Owens Memorial Track Stadium. For more detailed parking information, please visit:
http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/quickpost/ohsaa/ohsaatournaments.shtml

·NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - St. John Arena
Some 5,000 to 8,000 guests per session are expected.
*1st Round: Saturday (3/20), 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
*2nd Round: Monday, (3/22), times to be announced
Parking is available at no charge. Visitors may park in the North St. John Arena lot, Tuttle lots 3 and 4 and Ohio Stadium. Disability parking will be available on the north and south side of St. John Arena. The South French Fieldhouse lot will be reserved for pass parking only. No parking shuttles will be available. For more detailed information, please visit:
http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/specialevents/stjohn/stjohnarena.shtml

·OSU Winter Commencement - Schottenstein Center
8,000 to 10,000 guests expected.
*Sunday (3/21) 3-6 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m.
Parking is available at no charge. Visitors may park in the Scarlet lots 3 and 4, Gray lots and North St. John Arena lots. Disability parking is located in the Scarlet 1 and 2 lots, just north of the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Shuttles will be provided to and from the Buckeye lots beginning at 1 p.m. and will run until approximately one hour after the conclusion of the ceremony. For more detailed parking information, please visit:
http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/specialevents/schott/schotteventwindows/schottevent032104.html

·Columbus Dispatch Spelling Bee - Ohio Union
*Saturday (3/20), 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Special event parking available at the Ohio Union Garage. $5 charge unless the vehicle displays a current OSU hangtag.

·Salvation Army Band Performance -Mershon Auditorium
*Saturday (3/20) 8-10:30 p.m. Special event parking available at Arps Hall and Ohio Union Garages. $5 charge unless the vehicle displays a current OSU hangtag.

·Construction:
*The Woody Hayes Bridge on Woody Hayes Drive, located southwest of St. John Arena, is under construction. Traffic is being maintained in both directions; however, lane restrictions are in effect.
*Ohio Union Garage west exits (off of College Road) to the Ohio Union
Garage will be closed Monday–Friday (3/22-26) for renovation. Access in and out of the garage will be maintained using the entrances and exits on the east side of the garage (off of High Street). The entrance off of College Road will also be open.