Parking is never easy at the Alaska State Fair, but there's been some changes this year that hopefully will ease some of that frustration. The fair kicked off Thursday and to combat the parking dilemma fair officials have added more parking spots in the brown lot.

It's an addition to the three parking lots already in place. It will be used on an as-needed basis and was built with weekend traffic in mind.

As many as 2-thousand cars can fill the new lot and is just one of the many new changes this year to ease traffic congestion at and around the fairgrounds.

Fair marketing director, Dean Phipps, summed the changes up, saying, "We have an entirely new plan with several elements. We've widened the entry lane off the highway into the parking grounds quicker. We also have more certified flaggers this year - more on call."

Officials are urging visitors to give themselves enough time to get down to the fair and to drive slow.