VCU’s annual Spirit Walk will briefly close roads near the Siegel Center

Share this story
VCU Police lead students down Harrison Street during the university's annual Spirit Walk last August. (File photo)
VCU Police lead students down Harrison Street during the university's annual Spirit Walk last August. (File photo)

Virginia Commonwealth University will host its annual New Student Convocation and Spirit Walk on Tuesday, Aug. 21. The VCU Police Department will close roads for an estimated 20 minutes to allow students to walk from the Stuart C. Siegel Center to the University Student Commons.

Starting at approximately 4:45 p.m., police will briefly close all eastbound and westbound lanes of West Broad Street at the north intersection of Harrison Street. (The exact start time and length of the closure are subject to change.)

“Our goals are to ensure the safety of participants, minimize traffic impacts and keep GRTC and Pulse buses running in a timely manner,” said VCU Police Capt. Ervin Taylor.

VCU Police will briefly close Harrison Street between Broad Street and Grove Avenue to allow participants to walk the route. Police will block intersections along Harrison Street and will reopen streets for vehicular travel as soon as participants pass through. VCU Police officers will lead and follow Spirit Walk participants.

The Spirit Walk route continues south on Harrison Street, crossing Grace and Franklin streets, and then heads east onto Park Avenue. The route will continue south on Linden Street and end at the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Police will close Floyd Avenue, between Harrison and Cherry streets, for a student block party until 10 p.m.

Drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes through the area while Broad Street is closed. Suggested alternatives include Leigh or Cary streets, Interstate 95 or the Downtown Expressway.