Aug. 17, 2005
For Immediate Release
To: News Directors and News Editors
From: Veronika Avery, Assistant Director of Media Relations, 342-5444, vavery@ulm.edu

Along with classes starting and students returning to campus, construction projects are a major feature at the University of Louisiana at Monroe this fall. Many students returning to campus this week will find that ULM has changed significantly since they were last here in the spring. Because of this change, ULM has posted a link off the ULM home page http://www.ulm.edu/drivingtips/ that shows the best ways to get around campus (navigating around construction areas).

The web site was announced at the ribbon cutting for the new newly constructed on-campus student apartments. ULM President James E. Cofer Sr. wants to be sure students know the best ways to get on campus.

Cofer said, "Students will be returning to campus this fall to see a completely different ULM. Buildings have been demolished and new ones are up. We want students to know we have resources for them in place so that they can get around campus with ease.

Cofer also addressed parking, "This fall we will move 400 cars to the other side of the bayou," said President Cofer. "This opens up parking for the west side of campus."

Cofer adds, "There are more than enough parking places on campus, but we want to caution students that some parking has changed along with changes in buildings and roads. We want students to be aware of those changes."

New parking is available at the three new, on-campus apartment buildings, but that parking is only available to students living in those buildings. Furthermore, students living on campus are encouraged to walk to their classes.

You can visit the ULM University Police web site http://www.ulm.edu/~police/parking/parkindex.htm for more information on where to park. A link to this site is also located here http://www.ulm.edu/drivingtips/.

Along with building construction on campus, the widening of DeSiard is happening now, too.

It is also recommended that commuters and visitors avoid DeSiard Street whenever possible. If you cannot avoid DeSiard, then plan a few extra minutes in your schedule for possible delays.

Other tips when driving into the ULM campus:

• Instead of using DeSiard St., students are advised to utilize Northeast Drive and other smaller parallel side streets as entrances to the west side of campus
  
• When coming from the east, turn north on Stadium Drive rather than traveling farther west on DeSiard
  
• Once construction moves farther east on DeSiard, it may be better to utilize Cypress Point and Bon Aire Drive to enter campus from the east
  
• From the north, traffic could bog down on U.S. 165 and traveling south down Old Sterlington Road to Bon Aire Drive may be an easier way to access campus
  
• Mitchell Street is being widened for two-way traffic, for better access to center of campus due to construction on DeSiard St. The street, which is currently closed, will reopen on Aug. 31
  
• When traveling north on 165, turn on Claiborne and it will take you directly into the commuter lots

For this and other ULM news online visit www.ulm.edu. While there, check out ULM's on-line calendar for all of ULM's upcoming events.