April 5, 2018 | Stephanie Reitz - UConn Communications

Construction Update, April 2018

Despite late snow at the start of the month, April construction remains on track at several sites across the Storrs campus.

A view of construction along North Eagleville Road on Oct. 16, 2017. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Despite late snow at the start of the month, April construction remains on track at several sites across the Storrs campus. With warmer weather ahead, pedestrian traffic is expected to significantly increase throughout campus in coming weeks through Commencement. (Peter Morenus/UConn Photo)

Despite a late-season snowfall at the start of the month, April construction remains on track at several sites throughout the UConn Storrs campus.

To help people anticipate changes in traffic and pedestrian patterns, the University started this monthly series in March to update students, faculty, and staff about the status of significant projects.

The University’s Office of Planning, Design, and Construction also posts many resources on its website to explain significant construction activity by semester, along with project updates and detailed quarterly construction status reports.

In addition, the office keeps a running blog on its website with project updates, specifics about traffic impacts from construction, and other news.

 

Some news of note in April for drivers and pedestrians at UConn Storrs:

North Eagleville Road

The multi-year project to replace water pipes, steam lines, and other underground infrastructure on North Eagleville Road will continue to pose traffic considerations throughout April and into the summer.

Part of that project includes excavating the significant amount of underground bedrock that was discovered during previous digging. That work continues near the Torrey Life Sciences Building, with alternating one-way traffic patterns in that area and also near the Auditorium Road Extension and Atwater Laboratory.

With warmer weather ahead, pedestrian traffic is expected to significantly increase in that area and throughout campus in coming weeks through Commencement.

Drivers are urged to be especially cautious and to heed the directions of police, guards, and traffic controls along the corridor, particularly at pedestrian crossings.

Jim Calhoun Way

The eastern end of Jim Calhoun Way will be closed starting at 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Thursday, April 12, into the late evening, as part of the SUBOG Spring Concert event, the UCONNIC Music Festival.

The event is expected to draw almost 5,000 people to the area in and around Gampel Pavilion, so navigating the traffic detours will also include being particularly cautious to give pedestrians the right of way.

Daily commuters who park in South Garage and exit onto Jim Calhoun Way will be directed west (turning left) if they leave at 3:30 p.m. or later. However, they might also find it more convenient to use the garage’s fifth-floor exit and turn right on Hillside Road to avoid the heavy pedestrian traffic near Gampel.

Signs will be posted to alert drivers of the Jim Calhoun Way road closure, and buses will also be detoured around the closed portion of the road for the duration of the event.

Hillside Road

Although Hillside Road is open to all traffic in April, drivers should be aware that frequent delays may occur approaching North Garage and Jim Calhoun Way, depending on work being done at nearby construction sites.

A larger project is on the horizon this summer that will close Hillside Road from Glenbrook Road (just north of the Student Union) to Gilbert Road, near McMahon Hall, beginning shortly after Commencement.

The closure is necessary as work is done throughout the summer at the under-construction Student Recreation Center and the portion of Hillside Road that runs in front of it, including the nearby intersection with Jim Calhoun Way.

More information is provided at www.uconn.edu/construction, which will be updated throughout the construction season – including traffic control and detour plans – to help people determine other ways to reach their destinations during that closure.

Also of note:

  • Auditorium Road and Extension remain closed to vehicle traffic, with exceptions only for construction, service, and emergency vehicles.
  • Drivers on Glenbrook Road can only turn right at North Eagleville Road and head east toward the Route 195 campus entrance/exit. Also, frequent delays may occur near the Central Utility Plant, so drivers and pedestrians are reminded to obey the crossing guards and traffic controls.
  • Jorgensen Road and Whitney Road are open to local traffic only. On Jorgensen Road, an accessible drop-off area is available for events at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre in the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. At Whitney Road, on-street parking reductions near the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center continue.
  • Coventry Road is closed to traffic at Maple Lane near the Louis J. von der Mehden Recital Hall, with access allowed only for construction, service and emergency vehicles.