Things in Gainesville are close to back to normal after Hurricane Irma hit last weekend. Here’s what visitors need to know before the Gators’ football game against Tennessee.
Welcome back, Gator fans. Saturday is the University of Florida’s first home football game of the season after last week’s game against Northern Colorado was postponed. (Thanks, Hurricane Irma.)
The Gators will play the Tennessee Volunteers, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know to navigate post-Irma Gainesville:
Most gas stations in the city have at least some fuel, according to GasBuddy.com, which listed six stations without fuel or power and almost 30 stations with both fuel and power Friday morning.
The five Regional Transit System gameday shuttles will be running, picking spectators up from the Oaks Mall, Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, the Village Center in Haile Plantation, Tioga Town Center and the Downtown Parking Garage. The cost is $10 per game or $50 per season. Shuttles drop passengers off just outside the stadium.
Parts of University Avenue will be closed between three hours before kickoff until two hours after the game ends. Only local traffic will be allowed on West University Avenue between 13th Street and 17th Street and between Gale Lemerand Drive and 22nd Street. Permits and placards will be required for university parking.
Assistant County Manager Gina Peebles said most of the well-traversed game day restaurants are open. The Swamp, all three locations of Blue Highway Pizzeria and Mother’s Pub and Grill will be open for. Peebles recommends diners call restaurants to ensure they’re open.
Food trucks will be at the Gator Walk Village on the North Lawn, a new addition to the season. Cilantro Tacos, Nitrogen Creamery, Latin America Fusion and Monsta Lobsta will be parked there Saturday.
Don’t miss Ben Hill Griffin Stadium’s new features after its renovation, which include 15-millimeter high-definition LED ribbon boards above the North and South End Zone that will display game clock information, down and distance, statistics and scores from other games.
And don’t forget the stadium’s bag policy. Bags that are allowed are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12-by-6-by-12 inches; one-gallon clear, resealable plastic storage bags; small clutch bags no larger than 4.5 inches-by-6.5 inches; and medically necessary items (after proper inspection).
GRU TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS
Work by Gainesville Regional Utilities on equipment damaged by Hurricane Irma could impact traffic during the football game and through the weekend.
GRU will have traffic control with flagmen to assist with turning around large trucks on Northwest 34th Street and Glen Springs Road before and after the game.
Intermittent traffic disruptions will occur through Monday on Southwest Second Avenue near 34th Street.
STATE ROAD BLOCKAGES
US 27 northbound: Flooding in Alachua on US 27 north, north of High Springs, all lanes blocked
US 27 southbound: Flooding in Alachua on US 27 south, north of High Springs, all lanes blocked
US 441/41 northbound: Flooding in Alachua on US 441/41 north, north of High Springs, all lanes blocked
US-441/41 southbound: Flooding in Alachua on US 441/ 41 south, north of High Springs, all lanes blocked
State Road 26 eastbound: Flooding in Alachua on State Road 26 east at State Road 222, all lanes blocked
SR 26 westbound: Flooding in Alachua on State Road 26 west at State Road 222, all lanes blocked
COUNTY ROAD BLOCKAGES
Lake Shore Drive, from State Road 26 to State Road 20
Northeast 21st Street, 8000 block between Northeast 156th Avenue to Northeast 192nd Avenue
Southeast 27th Street, 3600 block
County Road 236, between County Road 241 and County Road 239
County Road 1491, 28000 block, between Northwest 182nd Terrace and Northwest 278th Avenue
County Road 1493, Northwest 234th Avenue to the Santa Fe River
Northwest 227th Drive, from Northwest 238th Avenue to Old Bellamy Road
Southeast 225th Drive, 8400 to 8500 block
County Road 234, at Prairie Creek Bridge
Northwest 177th Avenue, from State Road 121 to County Road 231
