TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama Ferguson Center Deck expansion has opened, adding more than 500 parking spaces of on-campus parking and another deck on Campus Drive near Smith Woods is nearing completion.

“Hopefully, the construction of two new parking decks should help to ease the parking pressures on the North side of campus,” says Ronnie Robertson, UA Director of Transportation Services.

The Campus Drive deck will have approximately 600 spaces with more than 200 additional surrounding surface parking spaces. The expected completion date is early October.

“Like the Ferguson deck, the Campus Drive deck will be open to visitors by paying $1 to exit. Permit holders who have green or red zone permits will be allowed to exit the decks by swiping their Action Card in the first card swipe,” says Robertson.

The new North East Parking Lot, on the corner of Hackberry Lane and Research Drive will also be opening in September. With the construction of the new residence hall complex, the only access to this lot will be from Campus Drive to Hackberry Lane. Hackberry Lane is now open to traffic.

“Construction on the new North ten Hoor parking deck, directly behind ten Hoor Hall, is expected to begin in September. This deck will add around 669 parking spaces, bringing the total in that area to 2,010 when construction is completed in 2005,” says Robertson.

The ten Hoor deck construction will only affect the parking lot directly behind ten Hoor and it will close the Marr's Spring Road Entrance. The existing lower ten Hoor Deck and the areas accessible off Campus Drive will be unaffected. “The Ferguson Deck expansion that has already opened should hopefully ease any parking problems that may be created by construction in this area,” says Robertson.

“With all of the construction on campus, we understand that students, faculty and staff are being inconvenienced, but we are doing our best to keep everyone up-to-date and notified about the new parking areas becoming available,” adds Robertson.

For current updates of parking changes on campus, visit the UA Parking Services Web site at www.bamaparking.ua.edu.