Over winter break, the University of Mississippi broke ground on a new 829-spot, five-story parking garage on the west side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (in the parking lot where Rebel Shop is located). With construction on a new basketball arena beginning in the spring, parking and transportation in that part of campus will be tricky until the arena is completed in 2016.
The construction will be completed in two phases. Phase I began in December, and Phase II will begin in March.
Here’s what the construction means for UM employees:
1.) Most major faculty/staff parking lot and road closures won’t occur until March – While approximately 15 faculty/staff spots in the West Stadium lot (near the Rebel Shop) are currently fenced off, there are still at least 194 spaces available for faculty/staff parking until Phase II begins in March.
2.) Expect congestion near the football stadium and Turner Center when students return – The Hill Drive entrance into the West Stadium lot is blocked, and only the All-American Drive entrance remains open. Allow more time than usual when driving or parking in that area, especially since multiple commuter lots bordering Hill Drive are closed.
3.) In March, multiple faculty/staff lots and a portion of Hill Drive will close – When Phase II begins, the West Stadium lot (209 faculty/staff spots total) and the Turner Center lot (67 faculty/staff spots) will close entirely. The West Stadium lot will not reopen. A portion of Hill Drive near the construction zone will also close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
4.) Newly designated faculty/staff lots will be available near the Tad Smith Coliseum in March – Two commuter lots (164 spots total) near the Tad Smith Coliseum will be redesignated as faculty/staff as part of Phase II. See the map below for locations.
See the full story on Ole Miss News for more information.
