CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Police Department is advising travelers that road closures near State Farm Center and Memorial Stadium will affect traffic Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Between 8-9 p.m. Thursday, students will be crossing Kirby Avenue between First and Fourth streets to attend programming at State Farm Center. Police officers will be on hand to assist students who are crossing and may need to close the road entirely if crowd sizes are significant.

At 9:30 a.m. Friday, motorists should expect Kirby Avenue to be closed between First and Fourth streets to accommodate thousands of students crossing to attend New Student Convocation at State Farm Center. Kirby Avenue will reopen during the program, and then close again at the conclusion of the ceremony at 11 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m. Friday, immediately following New Student Convocation, is a picnic in Grange Grove at Memorial Stadium. Crowds at the picnic will require First Street to be closed between Kirby Avenue and Peabody Drive. Roads will be reopen by the conclusion of the event around 12:45 p.m.

Motorists are advised to avoid Kirby Avenue and First Street during the affected times on Thursday evening and Friday morning. These road closures are necessary to welcome thousands of new students to the Champaign-Urbana community, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation at the beginning of this new school year.