AMHERST — Traffic patterns on several roads will be adjusted beginning Friday as 4,700 freshmen arrive at the University of Massachusetts, the first of 13,000 students expected to move in over Labor Day weekend.
In addition to freshmen, another 8,300 returning and transfer students will move in.
On Friday, during move-in day for first-year students, vehicles will not be able to travel south on University Drive from Massachusetts Avenue to Amity Street from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with drivers instead being directed to use Route 116 and Rocky Hill Road in Hadley, or North Pleasant Street in Amherst, to get to Amity Street south of the campus.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m., both Friday and Sunday, vehicles will not be able to travel north on either University Drive at Amity Street and on Sunset Avenue at Fearing Street Regular traffic resumes on both streets at 4 p.m. Friday and at 5 p.m. Sunday.
On Sunday on Commonwealth Avenue in front of the Commonwealth Honors College, two-way traffic will be moved to southbound lanes for travel as the northbound lanes are used as the unloading zone.
The move in at UMass comes as the new roundabout at the intersection of Triangle and East Pleasant streets continues to be built by Warner Brothers and Caracas Construction. A final coat of pavement is supposed to be put down Thursday, said Town Manager Paul Bockelman.
While the volume of traffic has been a concern in the past, Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone said UMass has changed its move-in protocols and reduced congestion in recent years.
During the weekend, a variety of programs will offer opportunities for students to make friends and learn about the campus and neighboring community.
These will include the Adventure into Amherst, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, in downtown Amherst, and Mall Madness at Hampshire Mall in Hadley, from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
UFest will be on campus from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, featuring student performances, interactive displays and carnival activities.
On Monday, the new students convocation takes place at 2:30 p.m. at the Mullins Center, along with the class of 2019 photo and a campuswide barbecue on the Haigis Mall.