By Kelly Kim Miller
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — At the University of Arkansas, there is always construction, and students coming back on campus may have noticed these changes on the evolving streets, crosswalks, and buildings. Breanna Lacy, communications coordinator of Facility Management, said that they try to look ahead. “They’ve done a good job of laying in foundations for our future projects,” Lacy said.
Some of the road construction that was finished over the summer included work on Razorback and Maple and the extension done on Leroy Pond Drive. Leroy Pond Drive was extended through Lot 46E. David Wilson, communications director of Transit and Parking, said that they also added a bus stop so students could park there and then get on the bus to get across campus. The work done on Razorback and Maple was a part of a larger project that widens Highway 112. Both Leroy Pond Drive and Razorback Road had a new traffic light added.
One of the most satisfying things for the campus community to hear is the parking lot expansions. Lots 10, 78, and 78A on Whitham and Gregg Avenues were expanded for students and faculty. However, vehicles can no longer exit from Lot 10 onto Maple Street. Cars are only able to leave onto Whitham now. Other road projects included Garland Avenue and Thomas Avenue. Another change added to Stadium Avenue is a 3-D crosswalk. “Crosswalk safety is such an issue lately,” Lacy said. An optical illusion meant to give drivers a reason to pause before driving across a crosswalk.
Besides the widening of streets and making new additions to campus, Parking and Transit is still business as usual. Wilson said he would like for students to purchase parking permits for remote lots. He said the purpose behind this is for students to park away from campus and thin out the congestion on campus. “That’s why they are so cheap,” Wilson said.
Wilson also said every semester comes with the same struggles of reminding students that they need to get out of the green parking lots in time for game day. “All of those lots we have to clear, athletics built those. When it comes time for a game, we gotta clear out,” Wilson said.
Besides transit, some schools had big changes happen. The School of Social Work got moved to EJ Ball on the square. The old building that previously housed the School of Social Work is scheduled to be demolished in the fall and a brand new Student Success Center will be built upon the site.
Other buildings such as the Pomfret Hall, Adohi Hall, and a new Sorority House are either near completion or finished. Pomfret Hall’s dining facilities received renovations and a late-night restaurant is still being added. Adohi Hall is a brand new dormitory open to freshman on Stadium Drive and Leroy Pond. Finally, the Delta Gamma House is open to sorority sisters on Maple Street and Arkansas Avenue.
While so many changes have been made, construction projects are still ongoing on campus and the work is never really finished. Students are advised to remain careful around construction. Other places that are being worked on or will receive work in the future include Old Main, the Mullins Library, the ADPi Sorority House, the Windgate Art and Design District, the Baseball Development Center, the Track Performance Center, the Civil Engineering Research Center, the Indian Trails Tennis Center, and renovations to the Fine Arts buildings.