Plan Ahead for Heavy Traffic, Street Closures, During Move-Out and Commencement Events at UMass

Source: UMass News & Media

The public is advised to plan ahead and expect heavy traffic, possible delays and road closures on and around the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus due to student move-out and Commencement activities Wednesday, May 13, through Sunday, May 17.

Move-out for students is planned for Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14. On Friday, May 15, the Master’s and Education Specialists Commencement Ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Mullins Center and the 156^th Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Schools and colleges will also hold their individual senior recognition ceremonies across campus throughout the weekend.

The university campus will be closed for general business on Friday, May 15. All university personnel reporting to campus that morning should plan accordingly due to street closures and the heavy traffic expected for Commencement ceremonies. Traffic will not be able to travel through campus during Commencement Weekend while revised traffic patterns are in effect due to closed roads and detours.

As always, drivers should be aware of pedestrians and observant of all crosswalks, and they are asked to follow the direction of police officers posted in high-volume areas to control traffic.

Visitor Parking and Shuttle Bus Information, May 15-17 
If you are visiting campus on Friday through Sunday for Commencement and senior recognition ceremonies, please park upon arrival and use the university’s free shuttle bus service. It is strongly recommended that visitors arrive as early as possible, planning for at least two hours of travel time upon arrival to the Amherst area and allowing at least one hour upon arrival on campus to park and travel by shuttle bus or walk to the events.

• McGuirk Stadium Commencement Shuttles – Friday, May 15: McGuirk Stadium shuttles will operate from 2 p.m. until one hour after the conclusion of the Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.  Follow UMass Police directed traffic routes to designated parking areas and look for nearby UMass Shuttle signage and staff.
  
• Campus Commencement Shuttles – Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17: Campus Commencement Shuttles will operate every 15-20 minutes in a continuous single direction counterclockwise loop from primary parking and campus areas to and from Mullins Center, Recreation Center and other campus venues. Follow the UMass Police directed traffic routes to designated parking areas and look for nearby UMass Shuttle signage and staff.

Campus Commencement Shuttle Schedule

• Friday, May 15: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 16: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 17: 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Local Road Closures and Traffic Pattern Changes, May 13-17

Move-out – May 13-14

Traffic patterns, including one-way designations for streets, concourse travel and loading zones, will change on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14, for the Southwest and Commonwealth Honors College residential communities. Details regarding parking and traffic pattern adjustments and directions for move-out can be found under the “Traffic” tab on the Student Affairs Spring Move-Out site.

• Fearing Street will be converted to a one-way street eastbound between University Drive and Lincoln Avenue with cars entering from University Drive.
  
• Sunset Avenue will be converted to a one-way road southbound between Fearing Street and Massachusetts Avenue with cars entering via Massachusetts Avenue and exiting onto Fearing Street.

Commencement – May 15-17

During Commencement and senior ceremony festivities Friday through Sunday, the following road closures will be in effect.

University Drive will be closed:

• Friday between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Governors Drive westbound will be closed Friday from 7-9 p.m., Saturday from 7:30-9 p.m. and Sunday from 4-6 p.m.

Fearing Street west of Sunset Avenue will be closed Friday starting at 1:30 p.m., and all-day Saturday and Sunday.

Sunset Avenue, between Massachusetts Avenue and Fearing Street, will be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Rocky Hill Road east of North Maple Street will be closed Friday from 1:30-9 p.m.

Plainville Road will be closed to traffic at North Maple Street Friday from 1:30 p.m.- 9 p.m.

North Hadley Road eastbound at North Maple Street and Roosevelt Street will be closed Friday from 7-9 p.m.

North Pleasant Street, between Eastman Lane and Massachusetts Avenue, will be closed Friday beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Commonwealth Avenue will be closed from Massachusetts Avenue to Holdsworth Way Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Route 116 will be closed southbound at Meadow Street/Pine Street on Friday from 1:30-6 p.m. The Rte. 116 off ramps to the UMass Amherst campus both north- and southbound will be closed from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

For Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 15:

• Vehicles coming from south of campus (Route 9) should use Route 116 North and exit at the UMass Amherst exit (note that this off-ramp closes at 7 p.m.) and follow police directions to parking lots.
  
• Vehicles coming from north of campus (Sunderland) should use Route 116 South and turn left at Meadow St., then turn right onto North Pleasant St. and enter campus from the North entrance following police directions to parking lots.
  
• Route 116 North will be open all day to thru traffic from the south all day
  
• Thru traffic from the north between 1:30-6 p.m. should turn right from Route 116 onto Meadow St. and follow to Rte. 9

University parking permit holders impacted by move-out and Commencement activities will be notified accordingly by Parking Services.

More information and complete details regarding 2026 Commencement can be found at https://www.umass.edu/commencement.