Big Shows = Traffic Woes

Road closure, Emily Garver

Thursday is the last day Belmont students will run into traffic and parking issues around the Fisher Center—until next weekend. 

While the Country Music Association is winding down its Country Christmas filming, preparations are ramping up for international singer Andrea Bocelli. 

Parking on New Bernard Avenue and on P1 and P2 of the South Garage will reopen on Friday, but will close again next week.  

Students who park in the South Garage can still park on levels P3-P6. They can also park in the Curb Garage, accessible from 15th Avenue and Delmar Avenue. 

Despite the university providing alternatives, many students say the closures have caused traffic backups and delays across campus. 

“I am in Belmont Heights and McAfee a lot so I have noticed the road closures. Today was a bit frustrating getting between classes because it felt very chaotic near the South Parking Garage,” student Ella Markwald said. “I was almost late to a rehearsal because I had to wait for a crossing guard to direct traffic, which normally does not happen.” 

While some students like Markwald faced traffic this week, others sailed by.  

Issac Hallal has class in the Sports Science Center, but despite the closures in the same area, he has not faced any issues.  

“I’m not around this area much except for my wellness seminar... Nothing really impacted me much, I didn’t even know it was happening,” he said. 

The closures began Oct. 2 and are expected to last through Thursday. Campus Security officers have been stationed at intersections and garage entrances to redirect traffic and assist students and staff navigating detours. 

“The first step we take is to try and minimize any issue for the Belmont community, so primarily students. Then we take the best plan and course of action to try and minimize impact on students,” Campus Security Chief Mark Labbe said.  

Classes and university operations are continuing as scheduled, but students are encouraged to prepare extra time when traveling to and from campus. 

“I'm aware students sometimes don't like the fact that there are events, and the traffic impedes them and things like that. I get it, but it's a major metropolitan area,” Labbe said.  

This article was written by Emily Garver