Traffic Advisory for UMass Student Move-in
Photo: umass.edu
Source: UMass News & Media
Large groups of students will be moving-in beginning Monday, August 25, while Wednesday, August 27 through Friday, August 29 will bring the heaviest traffic on and around campus.
Heavy congestion should be expected on campus, as well as heavy traffic leading into campus on Route 9 and Route 116. Please consider not entering campus using the UMass exit on Route 116 and expect heavy traffic and possible delays entering campus via North Pleasant Street.
The following road closures and restrictions will be in place August 27-29 from 7 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m.:
- University Drive will be closed in both directions between Amity Street and Massachusetts Avenue; this section will be available for move-in traffic only.
- Eastman Lane will be closed to through traffic.
- Fearing Street will be one-way traveling eastbound from University Drive.
- Sunset Avenue will be open to southbound move-in traffic only.
- Hicks Way will be open to westbound traffic only; vehicles will not be allowed to turn onto Hicks Way from Commonwealth Avenue.
Additionally, traffic patterns on other campus roads may be adjusted during move-in, including on Commonwealth Avenue, which will be modified to one lane in each direction on Friday, August 29.
Among the parking areas impacted by move-in are Lots 11, 24, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 54, 63, 64, 66 and 71. Permit holders of closed parking lots will be emailed by Parking Services with details. Be advised that students and families will be using additional nearby parking lots while unpacking during this period.
As always, please practice pedestrian safety when traveling around campus and use pedestrian walkways and crosswalks when available. Drivers should remain vigilant of pedestrians on all campus roads.
One of the busiest times of the year in the Pioneer Valley is the end of summer when the students move in: https://www.amherstindy.org/2025/08/18/traffic-advisory-for-umass-student-move-in-2/. I wrote a song about it called “Move-in Mayhem”
Move-in Mayhem is my tongue-in-cheek tribute to one of the Pioneer Valley’s busiest and most colorful traditions: the annual UMass Amherst student move-in. Every late August, Route 9 and 116 overflow with cars packed to the brim, families juggling boxes, and students starting fresh adventures.
This song captures the traffic jams, the closed roads, the laughter, the stress—and the energy that comes when tens of thousands of new and returning students breathe life back into the Valley. From early check-ins to the official rush between August 27 and September 1, “Move-in Mayhem” tells the story in a playful, folksy way that locals will recognize instantly.
I recorded it with the spirit of community in mind: a mix of humor, observation, and a bit of empathy for everyone stuck in those long lines of cars. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a Pioneer Valley resident bracing for the annual gridlock, this one’s for you.
Download: https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/move-in-mayhem