The area between Duncan Drive to South Donahue Drive on Samford Avenue will be temporarily closed until July 27 due to the installation of underground utilities for a new residence hall.
The hall will be known as the Student Resident Hall at Samford Avenue and Donahue Drive.
The construction project team of 15-20 people is a collaboration of members of the University's staff, a contractor from Associated Mechanical Contractors and B.L. Harbert acting as the construction manager.
Along with electronic message boards and two AU Daily notices announcing the closure, this construction project team is working closely with the University to implement a pedestrian routing plan around this .
Along with Samford Avenue, its sidewalk on the north side will be temporarily closed. However, pedestrians may continue using the sidewalk along the south side of Samford Avenue.
These routes are marked with pedestrian signs along Samford Avenue and Duncan Drive with hopes of easing traffic.
Signs are also posted around the area to direct vehicular and bicycle traffic along the detour route which uses Duncan Drive, Lem Morrison Drive and South Donahue Drive.
For example, if traveling east along West Samford Avenue from South College Street through campus, the detour route will take drivers and cyclists south from Telfair B. Peet Theatre at the intersection of Duncan Drive and Samford Avenue East past the AU Medical Clinic on Lem Morrison Drive, continuing north to South Donahue Drive to the Samford Avenue intersection where the Telecommunications and ETV building is located.
Facilities Management Manager Ben Chapman said Samford Avenue will be completely reopened at the end of July.
"Together, we decided that this is the best time to do it because of its two-month duration," Chapman said. "Because we chose this time, this construction project will be done before the fall semester and will not affect fall classes or football game-day traffic."
Other campus disruptions that are projected to end by the fall include the War Eagle Way Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Project, traffic light timing corrections along Wire Road and the re-roofing of several residence halls on the Hill.
The War Eagle Way Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Project began on May 16 and will include new traffic control devices at War Eagle Way intersections, a new entrance into the parking lot of Lowder Hall from War Eagle Way across from Miller Drive, an additional right turn lane onto Donahue Drive from War Eagle Way and a redesigned parking lot at Lowder to increase circulation for all means of transportation.
To view maps regarding these and other changes, visit the Facilities Division's homepage at www.auburn.edu.
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