IU Football Gamedays Adjusting To Second Consecutive Year Of Traffic Issues
As construction continues on State Road 37 heading into Bloomington, Indiana is once again dealing with traffic problems on gameday.
For the second consecutive season, the road work will be causing traffic delays for fans traveling south from Indianapolis to Bloomington.
"[State Road] 37 is a mess right now. Can't sugarcoat that," IU Athletics Director Fred Glass said. "It's frustrating it's taking so long, and I'm glad that it's receiving a lot of attention from [Bloomington] Mayor [John] Hamilton, [Indianapolis] Mayor [Joe] Hoggset and others who are frustrated with the state of 37."
"We've been trying to work very closely with INDOT and I-69 partners to improve that experience, trying to open green lights through Martinsville and on the south side of Indianapolis, minimize cone zones. But candidly, there’s only so much lipstick we can put on that pig. It’s going to be what it is, at least through this football season.”
The department is carrying over many initiatives from last season, including real-time traffic updates via text message. Fans can subscribe to those updates by texting "IUFB" to 313131.
Indiana Athletics also elected to open parking lots five hours before kickoff and the Hoosier Village, a tailgate area featuring live entertainment, food and beverages, Kids Zone, live pregame radio show, and more, three hours prior kickoff.
IU is continuing to work with the Indiana Department of public transportation this fall to identify alternate routes for fans arriving from Indianapolis and other cities north of Bloomington. They are encouraging fans to arrive very early should the choose to use Ind. 37, or take one of the following alternate routes:
• Ind. 67 south to Spencer, then Ind. 46 east into Bloomington. However, INDOT is cautioning fans who return on this route that construction on Ind. 67 will impact impacting northbound traffic.
• I-65 south to Columbus to Ind. 46 west into Bloomington. Two portions of I-65 are under construction, according to INDOT, which could also present traffic delays.
"I am asking fans to come early, don't go on 37 unless you come early. You can avoid a lot of trouble if you do come early, but if you don't come early on 37, please use one of the alternate routes. Otherwise you'll have a frustrating experience on 37."
For locals, Indiana Athletics will be offering a dedicated pick-up and drop-off location near the stadium for ride-sharing services such as Uber. Pedicabs will also be available around the stadium on gamedays from Indianapolis-based Indiana Bikecab free of charge, but fans are encouraged to tip their pedicab drivers.
Food trucks will be set up outside Gate E2 of Memorial Stadium as well as the Red Lot near the corner of 17th and Dunn St.
"It doesn't have to be a bad experience," Glass said. "You can have a great time coming early."