Campus construction and infrastructure projects will dominate the landscape this summer as the university’s long-term plans lead to short-term service interruptions.
The Parking System and Infrastructure Modernization program, a $2.7-million upgrade of gates and associated software, will impact campus parking this summer as the lots get a technological upgrade. There will be some disruption in lots due to the upgrade. However, if the infrastructure is not completed by the end of August, it will be put on hiatus until after Thanksgiving.
As a result of construction of the Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB), located next to the Visual Arts Building, Perth Drive will be closed for four weeks starting July 4. The closure will allow for utility tie-ins, providing chilled water, steam, storm water/sewer and communications to the site. Details, including crossing location, remain undetermined. Closed since earlier this year, the Visual Arts Lot will continue to be inaccessible for the duration of the project.
Facilities Management estimates WIRB will be completed by late 2017/early 2018.
The Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS)-Nursing building, located at the intersection of Lambton and Huron drives, will impact both commuters and pedestrians. Stonework will continue on the north side of the building (along Lambton Drive) and result in temporary lane restrictions during material deliveries. The work will be completed by the end of June. For a week in late July, roadwork and sidewalk repairs, conducted to refurbish areas altered during construction, will result in lane restrictions.
Facilities Management estimates the FIMS-Nursing Building will be completed by December.
Other construction projects are in varying phases and will have little impact on surrounding areas, including the University College modernization in its abatement stage; Engineering building site development in its preliminary stages; and abatement to an older section of the Don Wright Faculty of Music Building in preparation of its removal.
The City of London is replacing a water main under the Thames River adjacent to the Huron Flats Lot. Work will have limited impact on parking and none on vehicular traffic.
Smaller infrastructure projects that will impact vehicular and pedestrian traffic include new lighting fixtures and crosswalk on Perth Drive (underway and scheduled to complete early June); repaving of Oxford Drive (scheduled for July and August); tactile plate repairs (scheduled for July); and Lambton Drive rework (scheduled for late summer).
