The roads to recovery
Construction continues on SIUE streets
Caitlin Doszkewycz
Issue date: 7/22/09 Section: News
Summer renovations are continuing at SIUE and with them come new road closures.
On Monday, the outer lane of Circle Drive was closed from Whiteside Road to Northwest University Drive. Whiteside Road leads to the Bluff Residence Hall and connects Circle Drive to Stadium Drive near the community soccer fields. Northwest University Drive leads from Circle Drive to the Early Childhood Center and the Heating and Refrigeration Plant.
Traffic will be allowed to progress north, one-way, from Whiteside Road to Northwest University Drive. However, traffic will not be allowed to go south from Northwest University Drive to Whiteside Road. Additionally, the closures mean that traffic will not be able to go to parking lot E via Northwest University Drive or the North Side of Circle Drive.
These closures are essential to completing the new roads and sidewalks that are being installed around campus and, according to Director of Facilities Management Bob Washburn, work is going well on the road projects so far.
"Work on South University Drive is actually a little ahead of schedule and will probably be completed a week ahead of time," Washburn said. "This project has a $1.5 million budget and we expect the lanes to be open in a week to ten days, depending on the weather."
The next phase of construction, which began Monday, will be to complete the sidewalk that is being installed on Circle Drive.
"Last year we constructed a sidewalk from Woodland Hall to Bluff Hall. This year we are continuing the sidewalk from Bluff Hall to Northwest Drive with a spur to the recreation fields and the fitness center," Washburn said. "Our hope is that students will begin to use these sidewalks instead of walking on the road."
Washburn said that the Circle Drive sidewalk should be completed during the fall semester and the project costs about $400,000.
"Construction will continue on the sidewalk during the fall, but the roads will be open again on Aug. 14, so there shouldn't be traffic when students return in mid-August," Washburn said.
On Monday, the outer lane of Circle Drive was closed from Whiteside Road to Northwest University Drive. Whiteside Road leads to the Bluff Residence Hall and connects Circle Drive to Stadium Drive near the community soccer fields. Northwest University Drive leads from Circle Drive to the Early Childhood Center and the Heating and Refrigeration Plant.
Traffic will be allowed to progress north, one-way, from Whiteside Road to Northwest University Drive. However, traffic will not be allowed to go south from Northwest University Drive to Whiteside Road. Additionally, the closures mean that traffic will not be able to go to parking lot E via Northwest University Drive or the North Side of Circle Drive.
These closures are essential to completing the new roads and sidewalks that are being installed around campus and, according to Director of Facilities Management Bob Washburn, work is going well on the road projects so far.
"Work on South University Drive is actually a little ahead of schedule and will probably be completed a week ahead of time," Washburn said. "This project has a $1.5 million budget and we expect the lanes to be open in a week to ten days, depending on the weather."
The next phase of construction, which began Monday, will be to complete the sidewalk that is being installed on Circle Drive.
"Last year we constructed a sidewalk from Woodland Hall to Bluff Hall. This year we are continuing the sidewalk from Bluff Hall to Northwest Drive with a spur to the recreation fields and the fitness center," Washburn said. "Our hope is that students will begin to use these sidewalks instead of walking on the road."
Washburn said that the Circle Drive sidewalk should be completed during the fall semester and the project costs about $400,000.
"Construction will continue on the sidewalk during the fall, but the roads will be open again on Aug. 14, so there shouldn't be traffic when students return in mid-August," Washburn said.
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