As city officials had hoped, the new three-story, 324-space parking garage at 700 Vermont Street is now open to drivers, in time for Kansas University’s first home football game on Saturday.

Work on the $6.1 million garage is not 100 percent complete. Crews will continue over the next few weeks with minor work, which shouldn’t interfere with parking in most of the garage’s spaces, the city said in a press release.

Among the finishing touches that remain: the garage’s fee system. Until that is installed, Lawrence drivers will be able to use the garage for free.

With construction work still under way on the adjacent library building, getting in and out of the garage could be slow going for the time being.

The garage might, however, ease football game traffic. The Lawrence Transit System will run buses from all three downtown parking garages to Memorial Stadium for a $1 roundtrip fee during home football games, starting with Saturday’s game.

Construction on the garage began in January, with the contract going to B.A. Green. Its exterior features metal paneling that is designed to allow in more light than the typical garage.