SMU construction will continue on campus until Fall 2014 when two-year residential rules will go into effect. (Sidney Hollingsworth/The Daily Campus)

Alternate routes are available, but for non-locals passing through, these detours full of U-turns and side streets can be confusing to navigate.

Students and visitors alike have been curious, but not angry about the campus expansion, Park ‘N Pony director Mark Rhodes said.

Rhodes says Park ‘N Pony has received many inquiries about what exactly is being constructed, how to use alternate routes and where to park, but very few complaints.

Most understand that the lack of parking and navigable roads are merely growing pains while the university expands its campus.

The amount of parking passes sold during the semester has remained the same despite the new challenges of finding a space.

Binkley Garage is the typical first destination of visitors and students who are unaware of other parking options.

Rhodes says it fills up quickly and remains full throughout the day.

In response to the inquiries about where to park, Rhodes gives simple advice: use Moody Garage instead.

Many of the upper levels parking spots remain vacant there. Near the construction site, an increase in traffic is apparent. Backed up lanes make the campus congested and more difficult to navigate.

While a commuter lot was expanded over the summer to accommodate these students, Rhodes understands the traffic poses a greater challenge for commuter students.

“Students who have to commute still have to commute,” he said.

“They just have to account for the extra time to get here.”

“It has been annoying to have to avoid Airline Road, because that is the easiest way to get from the parking garages to the highway. Binkley is always full also,” first-year Moez Janmohammad, who brought his car to campus, said.

Janmohammad rarely parks in other garages because of their location away from his dorm.

“The walk is obnoxiously long from Moody to my dorm,” Janmohammad said.

Bikers and pedestrians are affected by the construction as well.

“It’s easier to get around by bike [than by car], but it’s still hard,” sophomore Andrew Perry said.

Pedestrians complain not about the navigational problems, but about the dangers of crossing the street among cars with impatient drivers frustrated by the traffic.

“It’s scary to cross the street, because drivers are confused by the construction and don’t look out for pedestrians. They are focused on where they are going and not on me,” first-year Katherine Zopatti said.

But the main cause for the chaos seems to be worth the traffic.

The SMU Residential Commons Complex will bring more on-campus housing for students, a dining hall and a parking garage with 800 new spaces.

This new lot will accommodate students, employees and service vehicles,” Rhodes said.

The complex, located between the Dedman Center and Moody Coliseum, is a central location that will be easy to access by students. It is set to open Fall 2014.

The multiple road closures are not all due to the construction of the new buildings, however.

The ultimate goal for construction is to ease access to campus.

“I hope all this wait is worth it. If transport speeds are improved, I’ll be satisfied,” sophomore Daisuke Takeda, said.