Cars and pedestrians beware. Campus’ East entrance is getting a facelift at the expense of road congestion.
On Jan. 22, construction began on Brook Street as part of a new project to hide utility wiring underneath the road. Sidewalks and parts of the roads on Brook and Floyd Streets will be dug up to support this project, with work on Warnock Avenue soon to follow.
John Drees, associate vice president of communication and marketing at U of L, said the construction is also a part of the Belknap Engineering and Applied Sciences Research Park, and will reopen access to the Speed School’s parking lot from Brook Street.
The construction is also part of a beautification project for Brook Street and the intersection of Floyd and Warnock. This project will place landscaping on Brook Street similar to The Oval on Third Street in front of Grawemeyer Hall, according to U of L Today.
The landscaping for Floyd Street will introduce a new entryway, trees and a fountain feature to the east entrance to campus.
Construction on the roads is scheduled throughout the spring semester and will end before the beginning of the fall semester next year, weather permitting.
Construction on Brook St, along with Floyd St. and Warnock Ave, are part of a project to relay wires underground and beautify the east campus entrance.
Drees explained that, while the roads would be undergoing construction, traffic will still be able to pass through them. “Lanes will be closed periodically, and minor detours shall be applied.”
At least one lane should be open at all times, allowing traffic through, though at a slower pace.
The projects were funded by the State Road Fund, a program made available by the state primarily for use in infrastructure. U of L procured funding from the program in 2012 and 2014, and will not use any funds from student tuition in the road projects.
