Campus projects to impact traffic starting July 10
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 7, 2023) — Several campus projects scheduled to start on Monday, July 10, will temporarily impact motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and bus service. Please see below for additional details about how this work could affect your commute.
Avenue of Champions
Renovation of Memorial Coliseum is now underway and will require that a section of Avenue of Champions be temporarily closed in front of the building, between Lexington Avenue and Rose Street.
Work to install a duct bank across Avenue of Champions is expected to begin on July 10 and last approximately two weeks, until Sunday, July 23. During this timeframe, all traffic — including the campus Blue and White route buses — will need to detour around the area.
Campus bus detours
White Route buses will avoid Avenue of Champions by continuing on Rose Street, taking a left on High Street, left on South Upper, then continuing their regular route. Bus stops on Avenue of Champions and Winslow Street will be unavailable during this time.
Blue Route buses will continue past Avenue of Champions on South Limestone, turn right on Vine Street, right on Rose Street, and then proceed with their regular route to the Kroger Field bus shelter. Stops on Avenue of Champions will not be available during this time.
Cyclist and pedestrian detour options
Cyclists who normally travel Avenue of Champions can instead consider using Patterson Drive during a portion of this two-week timeframe. Patterson Drive typically allows for two-way traffic for cyclists. However, this street is also being repaved starting Monday, July 10, through Wednesday, July 12, weather permitting. It should reopen by Thursday, July 13. (See additional details on the Patterson Drive repaving project below.)
North of Avenue of Champions, cyclists may also consider using College View Avenue and the Memorial Coliseum Lot to reach either Lexington Avenue or Rose Street, depending upon their direction.
Pedestrians will still be able to cross Avenue of Champions at crosswalks at Limestone, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Lexington Avenue, and Rose Street. However, sidewalks on both sides directly in front of Memorial Coliseum will not be available. Please see the graphic for an ADA-accessible pedestrian route.
About the Memorial Coliseum renovation project
The Memorial Coliseum facility opened in 1950. It was named to honor Kentuckians who died in World War II and the Korean conflict.
The facility once served as home to the Kentucky men’s basketball program, and currently serves as home to competition for three women’s athletics teams: women’s basketball, gymnastics and volleyball.
Restoration work will encompass the entirety of the building’s interior, as well as a variety of systems-related upgrades, including life safety, security, lighting and sound. For more details about the project, see this story and for renovation renderings, see this page.
Additional repaving projects
Work to repave Patterson Drive is expected to begin as early as Monday, July 10, and last for two to three days. If possible, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians should avoid the area during this timeframe.
Access to the Singletary Center lot will be maintained throughout the project, and flaggers will be on-site to assist.
Additional repaving projects include Martin Luther King Boulevard and Woodland Avenue, both of which are expected to start July 10 and last approximately one week, weather permitting. Flaggers will be on-site and one-way traffic will be maintained on both streets for the duration of the work.
Motorists should anticipate some delays in these areas and plan their commute accordingly.
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