New Parking Garage

[Turbine]

But how on earth would you shut down Cajundome blvd. and congress for that long to construct it. I don't think the city would allow it.

Ah that is why I am calling on the Legendary "Design Students" of UL.

Personally, I think it could be done without shutting down Congress or Cajun Dome boulevard. Though for it to be done without major disruption it would take night work.

The innermost support would need to be provided by 6 massive stanchions 3 on each side of Congress with the center one being in center section of the boulevard. If a design can't be worked out with those posts providing the inner support then the only other option would be traffic disruption.

With the center stanchions in place, I could see structural beams and perhaps preformed concrete walls being hoisted into place with little or no disruption to traffic.

[CDeb]

Ah that is why I am calling on the Legendary "Design Students" of UL.

Personally, I think it could be done without shutting down Congress or Cajun Dome boulevard. Though for it to be done without major disruption it would take night work.

The innermost support would need to be provided by 6 massive stanchions 3 on each side of Congress with the center one being in center section of the boulevard. If a design can't be worked out with those posts providing the inner support then the only other option would be traffic disruption.

With the center stanchions in place, I could see structural beams and perhaps preformed concrete walls being hoisted into place with little or no disruption to traffic.

I think the major challenge is not technical, but political. You're talking about building a university-owned facility on city right-of-way, which they aren't going to relinquish because, oh yeah, Congress Street is still going to be there. I just don't like the prospects of them "playing nice" in such a scenario.

I don't like it from a traffic engineering standpoint for two reasons:
1) It kills sight distances at a very busy, high-speed intersection.
2) It increases traffic attraction to a facility with exits close to intersections, which is bad for traffic flow and safety.

Then we're talking about a structure that would cost significantly more than a structure built on an empty lot. The extra material and labor expense of building a structure to span a major roadway is significant, and then you add the extra cost of traffic management during construction.

While it's a neat idea, I don't like the feasibility.

[ljr3721]

There is plans for a parking tower at Cajun Field!

Are you serious? That has to be the biggest waste of money I've ever seen! There is PLENTY of parking at Cajun Field! And if it gets to the point that all of it is filled, there's always Blackham and the grassy area across Congress street.

About six times a year, a handful of football fans would have to take 5 minutes longer to get to the stadium. Maybe even (gasp) have to take a 2-minute shuttle bus ride. And that is a significant enough problem to spend MILLIONS of dollars on a parking garage?!?

[CDeb]

Are you serious? That has to be the biggest waste of money I've ever seen! There is PLENTY of parking at Cajun Field! And if it gets to the point that all of it is filled, there's always Blackham and the grassy area across Congress street.

About six times a year, a handful of football fans would have to take 5 minutes longer to get to the stadium. Maybe even (gasp) have to take a 2-minute shuttle bus ride. And that is a significant enough problem to spend MILLIONS of dollars on a parking garage?!?

Agreed. Cajun Field needs a parking garage like it needs an expansion to 90,000 seats.

[rhineaux]

Are you serious? That has to be the biggest waste of money I've ever seen! There is PLENTY of parking at Cajun Field! And if it gets to the point that all of it is filled, there's always Blackham and the grassy area across Congress street.

About six times a year, a handful of football fans would have to take 5 minutes longer to get to the stadium. Maybe even (gasp) have to take a 2-minute shuttle bus ride. And that is a significant enough problem to spend MILLIONS of dollars on a parking garage?!?

If it would get to that point, I would like to see a gameday closing of Cajundome BLVD. to all through traffic. somehow, they could assign Tailgating spots along one lane, have everyone in by a certain time. then it makes it nice to park and tailgate all the way to blackham, plus it amkes it safer for those coming from that far.

It is most likely more trouble than its worth though. Even if it weren't it would probably never happen because its not as simple as burning squares into the grass.

[Kal]

If it would get to that point, I would like to see a gameday closing of Cajundome BLVD. to all through traffic. somehow, they could assign Tailgating spots along one lane, have everyone in by a certain time. then it makes it nice to park and tailgate all the way to blackham, plus it amkes it safer for those coming from that far.

It is most likely more trouble than its worth though. Even if it weren't it would probably never happen because its not as simple as burning squares into the grass.

True but one of the reasons I originally proposed this was because the university will soon have to expand off campus. They will have to start putting more buildings near cajun field (like bourgeois and abdalla hall already are) when that happens there will have to be some sort of crossing of congress so that students can park at cajun field and walk to class. There just isn't enough room on campus for too many more buildings.

[TopSpinCajun]

Don't know.

I would like to see the "Design Students" from the UL School of Architecture and Design come up with a parking garage design that goes over the 4-corner intersection of Congress and Cajun Dome Blvd.

With the right design this could make the parking garage instantly usable by the UL LITE Center, Hilton and Gardens, Cajun Dome, the Swamp, and any of the various events that take place inside Cajun Basin.

Nice idea, whether it is feasable or not is another matter. It doesn't matter though, the students involved with the Community Design Workshop for the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette love this kind of thing. I have seen them work on far more frivolous projects, so why not. Here is to a garage covering an intersection with a netted tennis court on the roof.

[shof]

Nice idea, whether it is feasable or not is another matter. It doesn't matter though, the students involved with the Community Design Workshop for the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette love this kind of thing. I have seen them work on far more frivolous projects, so why not. Here is to a garage covering an intersection with a netted tennis court on the roof.

And while we are spending millions, don't forget the light monorail system to shuttle students from the parking to the main campus. You could even put stops at the student village and 9-hole course at the Farm.

[ulforlife]

And while we are spending millions, don't forget the light monorail system to shuttle students from the parking to the main campus. You could even put stops at the student village and 9-hole course at the Farm.

18 hole!

[Turbine]

18 hole!

An 18-hole Chip-n-Putt golf course would be a nice addition to Acadiana.