Waterloo, Guelph plan road closures for student move-in

As hundreds of college and university students start to move back in for a new school year, expect heavy traffic and some road closures in Waterloo and Guelph.

The citieshave designated this weekend as "move-in" weekend for students and as a result have made some changes to street availability.

In Waterloo,traffic will be redirectedaround the Columbia Street, King Street and University Avenue areas to helpmake the transition as smooth as possible.

"The area around Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo are going to be very busy with a lot of traffic Saturday and Sunday," said Shayne Turner, director of municipal enforcement services.

"If you don't need to be in that area and can find alternative routes to get past the area, [that] would be very beneficial."

In Guelph,move-in day for new students will be Saturday, starting at 8 a.m.Upper-year students will move in the following day, the University of Guelph said.

The university has also allowed alarge number of studentsto move in as early as Friday.Buses will not travel onto the campus during move-in weekend in Guelph.

Road changes in Waterloo

Lester Street

• Lester Street will be designated a one-way street over the weekend, northbound traffic onlyfrom Seagram Drive to Columbia Street.
• No access to Lester Street from University Avenue.
• No access to Lester Streetfrom Columbia Street.
• No left turns onto Columbia Street from Lester Street.
• No left turns onto University Avenue from Lester Street.

Spruce Street

• Spruce Street will also operate as aone-way street from Hickory Streetto Columbia Street. Northbound traffic only.
• No access to Spruce Street from Columbia Street.

Sunview Street

• No left turns from Columbia Streetto Sunview Street.

Regina Street N.

• No right turns onto Regina Street N. from University Avenue.
• Regina Street will also be a one way street. Southbound traffic only.

No parking

• Bricker Avenue from King Street to Clayfield Street.
• Regina Street from University Avenue to Hickory Street.
• Marshall Street from Brighton Street to Regina Street.
• Balsam Street from Hazel Street to Hemlock Street.
• Larch Street from Balsam Street to Hickory Street.

Road changes in Guelph

Gordon Street

• On Saturday, Gordon Street will be closed between Stone Road and College Avenue to help reduce traffic around the campus.
• Cyclists and pedestrians on Gordon Street should be extra cautiousat intersections, particularly South Ring Road and College Avenue.

Heavy traffic

• Expect heavier than normal traffic on roads around the University of Guelph including: Stone Road, College Avenue, University Avenue, Smith Lane and Victoria Road.

University owned roads

• Some roads owned by the university will beclosed over the weekendexcept for move-in traffic.
• McGilvray Road, South Ring Road, East Ring Road and Dundas Lane.
• Parking on East Ring Road or McGilvray Street should also be avoided.