Springsteen concertgoers urged to use park-and-ride, shuttles

By JENA WITTKAMP
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL -- Sounds of "Bruce, Bruce, Bruce" may fill the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan Stadium Sunday (Sept. 14) evening as Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band take the stage – but before then, concertgoers are urged to consider a few travel tips to make their drive easier and safer.

The event starts at 7:30 p.m., and UNC’s Department of Public Safety is encouraging fans to arrive early, use the park-and-ride lots, plan parking in advance and know the stadium entry policies (certain items are prohibited).

Information about stadium policies, parking and transportation is available at http://tarheelblue.ocsn.com/. Click on the "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band" icon on the right side of the page.

Chapel Hill Transit will operate free shuttles to campus from the Jones Ferry Road, Southern Village, University Mall (next to Dillard’s) and UNC William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education park-and-ride locations beginning at 5 p.m. Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m.

Due to the closing of the I-40/N.C. 54 eastbound ramp at exit 273, traffic coming to campus from the west should use exit 270 (U.S. 15-501).

Those parking on campus should enter via Manning Drive from U.S. 15-501, or Fordham Boulevard, or via the Columbia Street corridor from N.C. 54 west and U.S. 15-501 coming from Pittsboro. The majority of available parking is on the south side of campus and is $10 for regular-sized vehicles. Motorists are urged to have correct change to help traffic move more quickly.

Parking for the disabled will be available on mid-campus and can best be accessed via Raleigh Road to South Road, Columbia Street to South Road or Pittsboro Street to McCauley Street then South Road. Bus parking for this event is located by the Dean E. Smith Center and will be $30.

On campus, Stadium Drive will be closed to through traffic beginning Saturday (Sept. 13) at 4 p.m., and Ridge Road will be closed to through traffic beginning 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Eastbound South Road will become one-way beginning at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night. Almost all campus lots will be monitored.

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(Wittkamp, of Raleigh, is a senior majoring in women’s studies and journalism and mass communication.)

News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu