Main Street Reconstruction to Affect Access to South Campus

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The long-anticipated reconstruction of Main Street from Bailey Avenue to Hertel Avenue is expected to begin in late February or early March and will impact access to the South Campus by both motorists and pedestrians.

According to Richard Noll, manager for planning and programming in Facilities Planning and Design, University Facilities, once work is finished on underground utilities, work on the roadway will begin in two places: an expansion of the current Jersey Left Turn bus staging area at Main and Bailey, and a reconstruction of the intersection of Kenmore Avenue and Main Street. The work at the intersection will include removal of unsafe pedestrian islands and reconstruction of the intersection into "more of a simple 'T'," Noll says.

Once work at the Kenmore-Main intersection is finished, crews will begin reconstruction of Main Street, beginning at Bailey Avenue and moving southwest toward Hertel.

Noll says the Allen driveway onto the South Campus will be removed, and two new entrances to campus will be built -- one at the University Plaza and one across from Capen Boulevard.

"These driveways will line up better in assisting motorists in making turns out of campus, plus they will make it safer for pedestrians trying to cross Main Street from campus to the University Plaza," he says.

Another benefit of the reconstruction work is that the traffic lights along Main Street will be timed during rush hour, he added.

Crews will attempt to keep at least two traffic lanes open on Main Street and one driveway open into the Main-Bailey and NFTA parking lots during the construction, he says. However, delays and traffic congestion are to be expected due to the presence of construction vehicles and activity on the road and adjacent areas.

The project is being conducted jointly by the New York State Department of Transportation and the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works, Parks & Streets.