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Thursday Football Game To Throw A Wrench Into Rush Hour

Josh James
/
WUKY

University of Kentucky and Lexington officials are mapping out traffic patterns for a day that’s bound to test the city’s thoroughfares. The combination of a rare Thursday night football game, Keeneland, and the usual weekday rush hour backups could produce long waits for commuters.

Traffic management officials are hoping to avoid a perfect storm on Thursday, Oct 15th as Commonwealth Stadium hosts its first Thursday game since 1939, an ESPN spotlight event, during peak driving times on Nicholasville and Tates Creek Roads. UK Police Chief Joe Monroe says drivers should expect a modified version of the typical weekend game day traffic plan.

"Normally on game day you have three lanes coming inbound to the game on Nicholasville Road and one lane going outbound, so now we're going to go two and two," he explains. "So it may pose a little more delay to get into the stadium, but it's also going to help get the end-of-workday employee home quicker."

Meanwhile, UK faculty, staff, and students are being asked to arrive early and check whether their normal parking spots are off-limits. Those without football parking credentials will be routed to several off-campus facilities, where they can catch shuttles to the university. UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart told reporters Monday the exposure will be worth the temporary inconvenience.

"We want to have 60,000 people in the stadium plus. We want to have an incredible day. Keeneland's running that day and we've got an opportunity to showcase our city very uniquely," he said.

For complete information on game day parking and traffic routes, visituky.edu/thursdayfootball. Drivers can also contact an information line at 1-855-682-4115 from noon Oct. 14 until 8 pm Oct. 15.

The Wildcats take on the Auburn Tigers at 7 pm.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
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