Photos by Marisa Padilla
Traffic lanes at the intersection of Seaver Drive and President’s Drive will be reduced to one lane starting Wednesday and continuing through the remainder of the week, allowing concrete work at the construction site of the permanent roundabout, according to an email from Project Manager Scott Kaufman of the Department of Design and Construction.
Vehicles will be directed by workers with signs stationed at the intersection to alternate the direction of traffic flow.
This construction event is part of a project that began in August, which aims to create a permanent roundabout and make other improvements to the intersection. Students, faculty and staff can look forward to the conclusion of the construction in December, according to Senior Project Manager of the Department of Design and Construction Austin Oakes.
Oakes wrote in an email that the construction actually involves several changes to the intersection’s lighting, crosswalks and infrastructure. After receiving “overwhelmingly positive feedback” on a temporary version of the roundabout installed last year as a pilot of the idea, it was decided to tackle the construction of a permanent roundabout and the other improvements at one time.
“We wanted to do them all at once to capitalize on efficiencies and disrupt the community as little as possible,” Oakes wrote. “Although we feel this project has been too disruptive we try very hard to avoid that.”
The project had a rough start, according to Oakes, who wrote that “unacceptable flaws” were discovered in the design before the construction could begin, causing a delay that prevented the project from being enacted over the summer. Additionally, problems with the original contractor caused further delay before a new contractor could be found.
“We are very pleased with the progress our new contractor is already making,” Oakes said.
Senior Sevag Sepetjian said he passes through the construction frequently when driving on campus. Sepetjian said the construction has mainly caused issues with parking.
“There are no more spots up there. I feel like they’re taking up a lot of spots,” he said. “You could usually find one or two, but [now] it’s always … completely full.”
Sepetjian said he “wasn’t a big fan” of the roundabout because of close calls with other drivers. “I definitely want the construction to be finished, but I can’t say I’m looking forward to a new roundabout just because of my past experiences with people,” he said.
Oakes wrote that creating a permanent roundabout may provide a safe place for U-turns, improved pedestrian safety and speed control through the intersection.
Sophomore Meghan Schoen said that she was content with stop signs at the intersection, but acknowledges that she has not had much experience with roundabouts.
“It might be convenient, so then you don’t have to wait for other people,” she said.
__________
Follow the Graphic on Twitter: @PeppGraphic
