Motorists and visitors planning to attend Southeastern Louisiana University’s commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec 14, should anticipate heavy traffic and route changes affecting University Avenue between I-55 and North Cherry Street. More than 1,000 students will receive associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees in the University Center.
The section of University Avenue between Lion Lane and SGA Drive will be restricted from 7 a.m. to 6:30 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 Lion Lane for parking at the University Center, and westbound commencement traffic will be diverted to the campus at SGA Drive. 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 7 p.m. Southeastern Lion Traxx shuttle buses will be in operation before and after the ceremony to accommodate those parking in outlying areas.
Drivers not attending commencement are asked to use U.S. 190 or Natalbany Road to avoid University Avenue traffic.
