By Graham Johnson
Reporter
March 31, 2006
The construction zone at the center of campus may seem a bit daunting at times, considering the gaping gorge of clay that rarely appears to change. Those orange fences seem to be slowly ebbing out, taking more and more of what precious little walkway is left.
The section of sidewalk extending from the science building to the Mary Sword Commons is being torn up to accommodate for the changing of elevation in that area, said Facilities Manager Jonathan Robinson.
“When all is said and done, the commons will be flat and the sidewalk will go all the way around in an oval shape,” Robinson said.
In order to raise the elevation of the Mary Sword Commons, the steps leading from the back of the science building to the commons area were removed to allow for top soil to be brought in for leveling purposes.
“When this (leveling) was done, the steps had to be removed to tie in the remaining sidewalks,” said Robinson. “New steps will be added when the sidewalks are installed. The removal of the steps was all part of the big plan.”
Robinson assures the student body that construction has been “progressing well” and is proceeding “as fast as it can.”
Despite the few set-backs over the past year, such as repeated water-line breakages and internet-line severing, the construction continues to move forward.
The main setback, said Robinson, is that “it has taken longer than expected to finish the road.” He added that the road will be reopened “as soon as possible.”
“There are three parties involved in completing the work that must be done before the road can be paved,” Robinson said. “We are working with all parties involved to reopen the road.”
There should be no further demolition in the construction process, Robinson said.
As for now, students will simply have to bide their time, walking through the ever-expanding maze of orange mesh and taking the scenic route around campus until the project is complete. Only time will tell when campus life can return to normal.