Back-to-Campus need to know

August 21, 2025

Published in: Affinity

Here’s the scoop about Welcome Weekend, construction work, Personal Electric Vehicles and other fall-term fundamentals

"Welcome to UND" sculpture featured during recent UND Welcome Weekend. — UND archival image.

Dear UND students, staff and faculty,

As you prepare to arrive on the UND campus in the coming days, we want you to be aware of several construction projects that are taking place on and around campus so that you can navigate more smoothly.

Welcome Weekend

We are expecting hundreds of students to move into campus housing between now and Welcome Weekend and around 2,000 more students and their families to take part in Welcome Weekend move-in activities, starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Those coming to campus for Welcome Weekend Move-In on Saturday can follow the Stop Drop & Go map: The Wellness Center check-in site can be accessed from the north, via Gateway Drive and North Columbia Road/Engelstad Arena Drive.

Several temporary traffic navigation changes are planned for Welcome Weekend to maximize traffic flow. University Police officers will be posted at key intersections to guide traffic.

Road closure signs shown on Columbia Road looking south on Aug. 17, 2025. — This recent view of Columbia Road, looking south from the vicinity of the UND parking garage, shows the barriers that block traffic to the Columbia Road Overpass near campus. Construction work on the overpass is expected to be completed in September. Photo by Janelle Vonasek-UND Today.

Columbia Road overpass

The Columbia Road overpass, which has been closed to all traffic since May, will remain closed through Welcome Weekend (Aug. 23-24) and the start of fall semester classes.

According to the latest information provided to the University, the project is expected to be completed in September.

University Avenue & North 42nd Street railroad crossing

BNSF Railway temporarily closed the rail crossing on University Avenue, at the intersection of North 42nd Street, from Monday to Wednesday, Aug. 18-20.

The closure will allow for maintenance of the rail crossing, and originally was expected to be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday, Aug. 20. However, weather conditions extended the work, and BNSF Railway now anticipates opening the intersection on Friday morning, Aug. 22.

The sidewalk crossings at the intersection have also been closed. Pedestrians are being directed to cross North 42nd Street via the skywalk that connects Clifford Hall and Ryan Hall.

Westbound vehicle traffic is being detoured north from University Avenue to Sixth Avenue North via Stanford Road to bypass the crossing.

Second Avenue North reconstruction

This summer, Second Avenue North to the east of Columbia Road has undergone reconstruction. The project is now in its third and final phase — closing the street from the intersection of North 25th Street through the intersection of North 23rd Street.

With the work zone blocking access to the Energy & Environmental Research Center parking lot, a temporary road has been set up connecting it to the Fritz Pollard Jr. Center parking lot.

Sidewalks along the street remain open, and UND Athletics facilities are accessible from North Columbia Road.

The rubble of the Hyslop Sports Center is piled high beyond a protective fence. Photo by Janelle Vonasek/UND Today.

Hyslop Sports Center demolition

Demolition of the Hyslop Sports Center, directly south of the campus parking ramp, has been in progress since the first week of August.

As the demolition progresses south, trucks hauling debris will use Second Avenue North to exit campus via North Columbia Road. Heavy truck traffic should be expected around the area until the site is emptied and backfilled in October.

To allow for truck and equipment access, the sidewalk on the south side of Second Avenue North will be closed. The opposing sidewalk, along the parking ramp, will remain open.

Demolition work will pause during Welcome Weekend, Aug. 23-24.

Register your bicycle and PEV

UND’s new policy for personal electric vehicles (PEVs), including scooters, skateboards, hoverboards and electric bikes, was created to address fire and other safety concerns.

Effective immediately, PEVs are subject to being impounded at the owner’s expense if the vehicles are found inside UND buildings or parked, stored or being charged improperly. There is absolutely no charging allowed in campus buildings, and PEVs may be parked only in UND bike racks located at least 20 feet from campus buildings.

More information related to PEVs, including safety tips and how to spot issues with batteries, is available on UND’s Fire Safety webpage.

UND students, staff, and faculty are required to register their bicycles and PEVs with the Department of Public Safety. Registration is free. This can be done in person at the Office of Safety – 3851 Campus Road.

To register a bicycle or PEV, riders will need the following information:

Serial number
Description (make, model, and color)
The bicycle or PEV does NOT need to be with you at the time of registration.

Bicycles and PEVs, whether registered or unregistered, are subject to citation and impoundment when violations of storage/charging requirements occur.

The Office of Safety will be registering bicycles and PEVs at the following locations:

Welcome!

If it’s your first time or it’s been a while, we are thrilled to have you at UND! We hope these reminders and updates will make your transition to campus an even more pleasant one.