By Liz Oakes
The Cincinnati Enquirer

If you're driving to the University of Cincinnati area this morning, expect delays, watch where you park and bring your sunglasses.

Traffic officials urge motorists to allow up to an hour of extra time today, the first day of UC's fall semester, as tens of thousands of students, many of them new to the region, head to class.

Likely trouble spots, they say, include the Hopple Street exit off Interstate 75 southbound, which backs up in the lane where traffic from Interstate 74 merges, and Central Parkway, where construction has whittled open lanes down to one by Cincinnati State.

Near UC, drivers may be blinded by the rising sun at the Martin Luther King Drive intersection with Clifton Avenue, said Lt. Alan March of Cincinnati Police Department's District 5.

It could get "pretty chaotic" on the roads this morning, said ARTIMIS morning supervisor Chris Smith.

Parking is another headache. UC has lost 1,200 parking spots since last fall because of construction that eliminated the Calhoun Street and Stratford Avenue lots.

And woe betide the motorist who tries to park where the lots used to be or in a lane reserved for traffic, police warn.

"We will be tagging, and we will be towing," March said.

Police will be out in force. District 5 plans extra patrols, 17 Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputies will work the lights at campus intersections, and eight UC police are directing drivers.

ARTIMIS officials warn I-74 may be particularly jammed, with cars backed up as far as the North Bend Road exit. Elsewhere, ARTIMIS signs today will urge southbound Interstate 71 and I-75 drivers to stay in the left lane to avoid slowdowns.

Commuters can check the ARTIMIS Web site before leaving home for traffic updates at www.artimis.org, or call 333-3333.

As for alternate ways to get there, "every route that's coming in is going to be used," March said.

His advice? "Carpool, carpool, carpool."

In any case, traffic officials advise patience: Congestion should settle down after the first week.

E-mail loakes@enquirer.com