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NEWS
| OCTOBER 25, 2005
Facilities
Street to become walkway
Changes aim to make more areas
for students to study and ‘hang out.’
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| The Shorthorn: Alex Pierce |
| The graphic shows the
renovations that take place to turn part of West Street
into a walkway for students. |
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By Kim
McQuire
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Students who use West Street as an informal sidewalk may soon see
a cobblestone walkway instead of pavement.
Physical Plant Director Jeff Johnson said the street, which is now
used by UTA service vehicles, will be transformed to mimic the area
next to University Center for students to use as an expanded walkway.
Johnson said he hopes the $100,000 project will begin before the
new Chemistry and Physics Building opens in January but that moving
trucks carrying furniture and supplies into the new building may
prevent construction until mid-January.
The existing sidewalk will be taken out while new landscaping will
be added, Johnson said. The 24-foot-wide walk will be the same cobblestone
as the area outside UC. Picnic tables and benches will also be available
for students to use as study and socializing space, he said.
Some Brazos House residents, who live next to West Street, are frustrated
that more construction may begin as soon as the new Chemistry and
Physics Building is complete.
“There is always something every semester that causes a nuisance,”
electrical engineering junior Grant Hightower said.
He said he has often been woken early in the morning by construction
noise like trucks, concrete laying and jackhammers. However, he
said the expansion will be a benefit to the campus.
“It’s definitely a good thing because it will give more
of a community feel,” he said. “Right now, the campus
is quite barren for places to hang out.”
Business freshman Dan Beaver said he likes the idea of the new walkway.
“It will add life to that area of the campus for sure,”
he said. “As long as it doesn’t lead to a raise in tuition
for students.”
Johnson said plans also include a circular driveway at the intersection
of West and W. Third streets. He said the driveway will be a drop-off
and pick-up point for students.
Campus architect John Guelian said the driveway will be a new icon
on campus and will act as a reference point for students.
“These little kinds of things give the campus an identity,”
he said.
Johnson said a decision on the project’s timing should be
made in the next couple of weeks.
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