Traffic changes planned for Southeastern commencement December 9
Friday, December 1, 2017
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND -- Motorists and visitors planning to attend Southeastern Louisiana University’s
commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 9, should anticipate heavy traffic and route
changes affecting University Avenue (Hwy. 3234) between Interstate 55 and North Cherry
Street.
Kimberly Lewis Robinson, the Louisiana Secretary of Revenue, will address nearly
1,100 graduates who will receive associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees
at the 10 a.m. ceremony in the University Center.
Harold Todd, director of University Police, said the section of University Avenue
between West Lion Lane and SGA Drive will be restricted from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that
day. Local traffic will be allowed to proceed on University Avenue for as long as
possible but will be diverted through the campus as congestion increases.
Prior to commencement, the University Center parking areas are expected to fill
early, and all traffic on University Avenue will be diverted to main campus via North
General Pershing Street and SGA Drive. Eastbound commencement traffic will be diverted
to West Lion Lane for parking at the University Center, and westbound commencement
traffic will be diverted to the campus at SGA Drive.
“Traffic will begin to get heavy early in the morning,” said Todd. “We anticipate
the parking areas around the University Center to be filled before 9 a.m.”
Additional parking spaces around the University Center will be set aside for
vehicles with appropriate handicapped placards. Individuals requiring handicap accommodations
should try to arrive as early as possible.
Vacant parking spaces in the Southeastern Oaks/Greek Village complex will also
be used for this event. Residents are requested to use the back gate near the laundry
facility and maintenance warehouse for entering and exiting between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Southeastern Lion Traxx shuttle buses will be in operation before and after the
ceremony to accommodate those parking in outlying areas or needing special transportation
assistance, Todd said. Shuttle stops will be marked with signs and/or canopies.
Drivers not attending commencement are asked to use U.S. 190 (Thomas Street and
Morris Street) or Natalbany Road (Hwy. 1064) to avoid University Avenue traffic.
Southeastern students wishing to return rental textbooks that day should wait
until after 2 p.m. to do so.
