Eugene police are warning of increased traffic for the Oregon vs. Michigan State game on Friday

EUGENE, Ore. – Traffic on Friday college football game days is different than a Saturday game, the Eugene Police Department says.

“Please plan to arrive in Autzen earlier than usual to accommodate the increased traffic,” EPD urges.

Here’s what you should know:

• The Oregon football game against Michigan State on Friday, October 4th is expected to be well attended. And there’s more traffic on the road at Friday games because people are commuting home from work and people are starting their weekend plans.
• There will be fewer shuttles. Shuttle provider First Student will use the majority of its buses for school transport, so there will be a reduced number of shuttles available for transport on game days.
• Additionally, there have been some post-game shuttle delays recently and the UO team is working with First Student and the Eugene Police Department to resolve the issue. We all thank you for your understanding and patience.

Here are some things you can do to improve your trip:

• Some additional buses have been secured from a southern Oregon district that does not have school on Friday, and local buses will be deployed once their school routes are completed. A reduced number of shuttles will operate from Valley River Center, Lane County Fairgrounds, Pacific Source and Springfield Station and will begin routes to Autzen Stadium on Friday at 3 p.m.
• To reduce your exposure to traffic, you may also consider parking on the south side of the Willamette River and walking across the Frohnmayer or DeFazio Bridges.
• Anyone driving near the stadium should follow the game day traffic markers, cones and signage that EPD and Eugene Public Works set up for each Autzen event.
• Follow the Laws – It is important that fans follow basic traffic laws when commuting to and from the game. The traffic cone patterns around the Autzen Stadium grounds on match days are considered traffic control devices and cannot be arbitrarily ignored. Failure to obey these cone patterns or the officers directing traffic can result in a $300 ticket.
• Don’t drink and drive!!! – Local law enforcement wants soccer fans to have fun, but do so responsibly. By avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and designating sober drivers, fans can help prevent tragedies.

Here are a few more tips to help you navigate traffic better:

To reduce congestion in the Ferry Street/Coburg Road area on game day, EPD recommends that motorists not traveling to the game use alternative routes to access the area on their commute. Alternate routes such as the Washington/Jefferson Street Bridge, Delta Highway, Cal Young Road, Harlow Road, Goodpasture Island Road, and Green Acres/Crescent Avenue are various options for motorists to reach the Coburg Road area without using to compete with the traffic from the game.

Other transportation options include walking and biking to Autzen Stadium along the numerous pedestrian and bike paths throughout Eugene or taking the bus.

After the game, traffic safety unit officials are encouraging motorists to take the Club Road exit downtown as an alternate option to get from Delta to the northbound Beltline instead of having to drive north on Coburg from MLK. If more drivers use this route, traffic in other areas around the stadium will be less impacted by game traffic.

The Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit, University of Oregon Athletics and the City of Eugene Traffic Engineering have teamed up to facilitate egress and reduce fans’ frustration as they exit Autzen Stadium. Flags will be placed on Garden Way from MLK to Harlow Road to safely and efficiently direct traffic into the Gateway Street area to access Interstate 5 in both directions.

The Eugene Police Department Traffic Safety Unit wants your route to the game to be as smooth as possible. By following these suggestions, you can shorten your commute time, reduce congestion around Autzen Stadium, and reduce the risk of traffic accidents.