Section of Conley Avenue to close until August 2010
Conley Avenue will be closed from Sixth Street to Maryland Avenue.
Published Nov. 3, 2009
-
Construction on a utility tunnel will move from Sixth Street to Conley Avenue on Wednesday. The west side of Sixth Street to the west side of Maryland Avenue on Conley Avenue will be closed until Aug. 1, 2010.
-
The section of Conley Avenue that extends from the west side of Sixth Street to the west side of Maryland Avenue will close 7 a.m. Wednesday to allow construction on a new utility tunnel to continue.
The closed section of Conley Avenue is scheduled to reopen Aug. 1, 2010.
"People on campus have been accustomed to road closures," Parking and Transportation Services Director Jim Joy said. "It's part of the life on campus."
According to the Campus Facilities Web site, the steam tunnel upgrade project is the reason behind closings on Conley Avenue and Sixth Street. Construction on Sixth Street is estimated to end Nov. 15.
"They're replacing an 80-year-old steam line," Joy said.
Campus Facilities spokeswoman Karlan Seville said the sidewalk along the Turner Avenue Garage would remain open, but the sidewalk along Townsend Hall on the north side of Conley Avenue will be closed.
A temporary asphalt drive will be constructed to allow access to the north entrance of the Turner Avenue Garage. Joy said the temporary drive might be completed by Tuesday.
"The alternative would be that we close the entrance completely," Joy said.
Joy said that would create a lot of pressure on the other entrances to the Turner Avenue Garage. The section in front of the current northern entrance might reopen earlier than the rest of Conley Avenue.
Seville said construction should be finished by the end of the summer 2010.
"We want it open before the 2010 school year starts," Seville said.
Joy said if the weather stays dry, the construction crew would make good progress. Bad weather conditions, such as rain, could slow down construction.
Seville said construction crews are trying to make up time right now due to the recent rain.
"Outdoor construction tends to run behind because of the weather," Seville said.
Joy said the university is working with the City of Columbia to adapt bus routes that run through Conley Avenue.
"I know that we have contacted the city, so they are aware of it," Seville said.