Construction on South Campus has limited parking space and cut off routes to multiple lots, including M, O and V, as well as the Anderson Parking Facility.

Work on a new building, which will include engineering classrooms, began on Monday, and Dean of Engineering Donald Weinkauf said it is expected to continue until fall semester.

Between 20 and 30 parking spaces are now unavailable, according to Operations and Parking Manager Diana Kaardal. She said access to any parking spaces other than those in the Anderson Parking ramp from Grand and Cretin avenues is impossible.

“Right now, the main effect will be the inconvenience of not being able to drive all the way through South Campus,” Kaardal said. “There is still plenty of parking.”

Access to lots P, X and Y, which are reserved for the St. Paul Seminary, is also restricted. Anyone who wants to access a parking lot on South Campus must enter and exit from Summit Avenue.

Senior Rocio Andrade parks on South Campus and said she had a hard time getting around the construction.

“I had to go around Summit. You can’t get in through the parking ramp, so it’s kind of annoying,” Andrade said. “I think they should open up that little tiny space between the parking ramp and parking outside because if not, we have to drive all the way around Summit.”

Senior Mauricio Carranza said his friends complained about the construction.

“They know the university is a busy place,” Carranza said. “But sometimes they’re in their busy schedules. They can’t really afford the time to go somewhere else.”

Kaardal said the best way to avoid parking problems is to keep an eye out for changes.

“Just be aware of the traffic flow changes,” Kaardal said. “People pulling off of Cretin Avenue and trying to turn around because they can’t get through to the Binz or the soccer fields will cause traffic problems.”

Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@stthomas.edu.