South Campus rehab is 'on schedule'

By SUE WUETCHER
News Services Associate Director

The goal is to get the "hard work" – the actual construction work – finished by Aug. 15, with final landscaping work to be completed between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, says Ted Krygier, project manager for the South Campus construction project.

The most visible portion of the project – the replacement of the concrete sidewalk along Main Street from the south end of campus near St. Joseph's University Church to Allen Drive – is partially completed. A single, gray concrete sidewalk has been installed, and contractors are waiting for an approved sample in order to install a stamped-concrete walk resembling red bricks that will run alongside the gray concrete walk, Krygier says. The new double-sidewalk will match the sidewalk the City of Buffalo has installed on the other side of Main Street.

He added that the single, gray concrete walk will be extended from Allen Drive to near Bailey Avenue to accommodate pedestrians waiting for buses or crossing Main Street to the University Plaza. Landscaping has been completed at three pedestrian entries to campus between St. Joseph's and Allen Drive.

Krygier updated the Reporter on the status of other parts of the ongoing, $4 million project:

– All repaving work has been completed on the Parker and Goodyear parking lots, and on Hayes Road from the Main Circle to the Central Heating Plant and Service Building at Rotary Road, and on the Michael Road and Allen Road entries to campus. University personnel will stripe the parking lots and roadways on the weekends, or early on weekday mornings.

– The Bluebird buses have been rerouted, effective July 20. Buses no longer drop off or pick up passengers at a stop on Bailey Avenue at Michael Road or at the Diefendorf Loop. Buses now enter campus at Clement Road, stop at Goodyear Hall and proceed along Hayes Road to a new stop near Foster Hall and the rapid-transit station. Buses now exit campus at the rapid-transit station. University personnel are awaiting delivery of a new shelter that will be erected at the Foster Hall bus stop. A concrete pad for the shelter already has been poured.

– About two-thirds of the scheduled sidewalk repair and replacement work – which was estimated to involve about 25-35 percent of the sidewalks on the South Campus – has been finished.

– Construction of a 12-slot drop-off lane along Clement Road in front of the UB Child Care Center has been completed.