MUPD: Heavy traffic, limited parking expected for graduation weekend

Those in Columbia can expect some crowded streets this weekend as friends and family make their way into town for graduation.

Mizzou graduation celebrations get underway starting Friday afternoon.

ABC 17 News asked university police about how they’re preparing for the extra traffic in town.

Police say those attending graduation should allow for plenty of extra time to get around this weekend.

They say they’re going to do everything they can to keep the flow of traffic moving, but they did ask ABC 17 News to remind people to leave early.

Police say parking will be limited, so try to carpool if you can and plan on having to walk a bit.

The university is expected to award more than 6,000 degrees this weekend. Those include online degrees for students in 45 states and 8 different countries.

Each department will hold separate ceremonies for commencement, and many will have notable speakers.

The former Interim UM System President Michael Middleton will deliver a speech Saturday, and a chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court will speak at the school of law ceremony on Sunday.

University police also tell us they’ll have a few officers at each ceremony, however they say they are not doing anything different as far as security goes compared to years past.

The first ceremony gets underway at 1:00 Friday afternoon in the Hearnes Center.