Summer is winding down, which means it’s almost time for students to return to Boulder.

University of Colorado students are already trickling back into town and freshmen begin their move-in in earnest this weekend, which makes this weekend the best time to avoid U.S. 36, any major artery around campus and the checkout lines at Target.

CU officials said they’re continuously tweaking the move-in procedure, and this year is no different. They’ve scheduled more students to move in this weekend to lessen weekday traffic jams, and they’ve changed up the order that students move into their residence halls. They’ve divided the campus into regions, and to ease congestion around any one part of campus students will only move into one residence hall per region per time slot.

More than half of students living on campus should be moved in by the end of the weekend.

About 1,000 students — resident assistants and international students among them — will be moving in through Saturday. Starting Sunday, freshman will begin filling residence halls: about 3,400 on Sunday, 2,300 on Monday and 1,300 on Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, move-in will be done by early afternoon Tuesday.

“Every year, we try to improve move-in to make it run more smoothly,” CU Police spokesman Scott Pribble stated in an email. “…The plan is that this will alleviate large traffic backups both on campus and in the city.”

Move-in traffic will be busiest on U.S. 36, and families have been directed to exit on Foothills Parkway or Baseline Road, depending on from where they’re coming. They will use Baseline Road, Colorado Avenue and Broadway to get to campus.

Drivers not bound for the move-in heyday are advised — “strongly” — to avoid using Regent Drive. The road will be restricted to vehicles with move-in permits from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday.

Faculty, staff and other campus parking permit holders are being told to expect traffic and limited access to their normal lots, and to make alternate transportation plans during the move-in dates.

After move-in, there are other key dates for students during the university’s Fall Welcome — a whirlwind of fairs, festivals and events. Students will gather Aug. 21 at the CU Events Center for a convocation ceremony with Chancellor Phil DiStefano; the night of Aug. 22 at Folsom Field for a pep rally; and Aug. 25 at Farrand Field for the annual WelcomeFest concert, with electronic duo Snakehips headlining the event.

Students are encouraged to register their bikes with the university and their electronic devices with the CU Police Department. They hit the ground running in two weeks with the start of classes on Aug. 27.

Fall Welcome activities conclude with the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Aug. 31.

Cassa Niedringhaus: 303-473-1106, cniedringhaus@dailycamera.com