Crews tear apart Campus Drive as BYU becomes pedestrian friendly

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Phase 1 of the construction project to redesign Campus Drive has brought several changes to campus and will continue to do so as fall semester approaches.

Since the beginning of May, construction teams have been working to bring BYU’s plans to unify campus and facilitate pedestrian traffic to fruition. Construction is currently in the first phase of the plan that should be completely finished by August 2015.

Campus Master Plan phases (2)
A map of the projected changes planned for the Campus Drive redesign. (Image courtesy Physical Facilities)

Phase 1 focuses on East Campus Drive, the road that runs between the Wilkinson Student Center and the J. Reuben Clark Building. Formerly, the street was the location of a bus stop, a vehicular drop-off zone and a bridge connecting the WSC and the JRCB. The bridge and drop-off zone have been destroyed, and the bus stop has moved to its new location on 900 North.

The construction has closed East Campus Drive permanently to through traffic, and there will be limited parking around the JRCB.

The first phase was projected to be completed onĀ August 15 of this year in order to avoid conflict with the fall semester, and the completion date remains the same.

“The construction is progressing very well, and we are right on schedule,” said Carri Jenkins, director of University Communications.

Once construction is finished, students and visitors can expect a few major changes:

  • A roundabout connecting East Campus Drive to Campus Lane (1060 North) will be the new drop-off zone by the WSC.
  • A pedestrian walkway will connect the law building to the WSC.
  • There will be a “slight net gain in parking spaces on campus,” according to the Campus Redesign website.

Some of the coming changes are in response to local feedback regarding the construction work.

“BYU is currently meeting with and receiving feedback from members of the campus and local community regarding (the issue of parking),” the redesign websites states. “This discussion has resulted in the addition of expanded drop-off points at the Wilkinson Student Center and the Museum of Art, as well as additional bike parking.”

After the Phase 1 construction is completed, the Campus Drive construction will halt until May of 2014. Phase 2 will be focused on improving the intersection by the Hinckley Center.

For more information, and to see frequent updates about the construction, visitĀ campusdrive.byu.edu.

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