The Recreation and Wellness Center was forced to shut down the suspended track above the basketball courts Friday, Oct. 18.
After finding issues in the form of a few loose bolts, Gregory Parsons, University architect and director of facility design, said he thought a temporary close would allow the track to be fixed in the correct manner, so students would be able to run on the track again.
Although the shutdown has raised questions surrounding the safety of the track, Parsons assured students the issue being solved is not related to the structure of the track.
"A few bolts didn't appear normal," Parsons said. "We thought it was important enough to get all of the bolts checked out and verified."
With details released about the loose bolts in the Rec Center, many people were left wondering whether the track they had exercised on for three months is structurally sound or if the building as a whole is correctly constructed last semester.
"I think, we the Auburn students, should have been given more information on this," said Hannah LeCroy, undeclared sophomore. "People run on it every day, so I think we have the right to know what's wrong with it and if it's safe enough to exercise on."
Although the Rec Center has yet to disclose the root of the track closure, Parsons assured Auburn students the closure was nothing more than a precautionary measure.
Parsons also said workers have already begun the process of repairing the problems with the track.
"It doesn't have anything to do with the structure or the track collapsing," Parsons said. "Rather, the loose bolts are responsible for the attachment of the guard rails to the track."
The track, which is comprised of approximately 2,300 individual bolts, was partly reopened Friday, Oct. 25.
The partial opening allowed runners to utilize the track in the area above the gymnasium, but excluding the remainder of the track.
The crews worked off hours to open the track back up, midnight-5 a.m., so the daily operation of the Rec Center is not disrupted.
"They still have about two more nights of checking and verifying bolts around the cardio and rock climbing areas of the track," Parsons said. "We are trying to get it done as quickly as possible while trying to stay out of the way of daily operation but making sure all bolts are securely fastened."
Parsons said it was important students are aware the closure of the track was due to something minor rather than something major, which might endanger the safety of students.
"We never really thought there was anything wrong with the track," Parsons said. "It was just a precautionary measure with the safety of Auburn's students as the main focus."
All parts of the track are now fully operational as of Thursday, Oct. 31.
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