The expected appearance of a large dragon on the Cornell campus Thursday afternoon will create staggered road closings on central campus between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Motorists are advised to avoid driving through central campus on University, East and Central avenues, and Tower, Garden and Campus roads during the annual Dragon Day event, in which architecture students parade a mock dragon through campus.

The dragon's parade route is changed from previous years to avoid its passing by McGraw Tower, where renovations are underway.

The dragon, with its attendant crowd, will leave its lair in Rand Hall at approximately 1 p.m. and march down East Avenue to Tower Road (now open), to Garden Avenue, to Campus Road, up East Avenue to University, and then onto the Arts Quad from Central Avenue.

Be warned.