The Chart Online

Rain, cold didn't dampen Homecoming dreams
Allison Rosewicz

Editor-in-Chief

Crosswalk construction continues at a steady pace for the safety of Missouri Southern students.

I was so excited to finally break ground and see the project begin as planned, said Dr. Terri Agee, vice president for business affairs.

According to the contract dates, the projects on Newman and Duquesne roads must be substantially complete by Jan. 21, and final completion must occur by Feb. 11.

But officials expect the traffic signals to be up and running well before those dates. Agee said she believes by the time spring semester classes begin Jan. 13, construction on the traffic signals will be nearly complete. She said the safety barrier on Newman Road may need further work following winter break.

Bob Harrington, physical plant director, has sooner completion in mind.

I fully expect everything to be done before the beginning of the spring semester, he said.

John Bolte, the project engineer from Tri-State Engineering, is also thinking positively.

We want the widening work and signals operating by Christmas, he said. Our goal is to get this thing going before Christmas.

Agee said the construction is right on target to meet these goals. Snyder Bridge Co., the company performing the construction, has experienced no weather or other delays.

We haven t run into anything unexpected, Agee said. It s been very smooth, and we re right on time.

Students feel a bit differently.

The construction seems to be going a little slowly, but I m still glad it s happening, said Megan Scott, freshman general business major.

No additional costs have arisen. The original bid of $382,787 still stands to cover the construction on the crosswalks. All of the equipment is also already on-site and ready for installation.

We ordered all of that months ago so it would be here, Agee said. We ll have no delays with that.

On Duquesne Road, two pole bases for the traffic signals were already poured, and the other two were poured this week. A gas pipe was also moved successfully 15 feet to the west by Missouri Gas & Energy. Harrington said he was worried some of the trees might be destroyed by the move, but most of them remained unharmed.

The gas company did an excellent job on that, Agee said. They re-seeded the area and saved most of the trees. We re very pleased with the job.

Bolte said more construction will begin on Duquesne soon.

Newman Road has been cut to prepare the road for widening, and new curbs have been installed. The installation of drainage piping has also been performed, the ground just has to be filled in around the piping.

Due to the construction along Newman, students and other pedestrians have been forced to use the tunnel rather than the crosswalk. Vehicles are also not allowed to enter the residence halls from Newman Road. They must enter behind the halls on Duquesne.

Our goal was minimal inconvenience, but whenever there s construction, there s always going to be inconveniences, Agee said.

Scott said the only time the detour through the tunnel has bothered her is when the walls were being painted.

The smell was really strong, and there really wasn t another way to go across campus, she said.

Despite the detours, Agee and Harrington said they have received no complaints. Bolte said he has heard no complaints, either.

The students have been great, Agee said. I really appreciate the students cooperation in using the tunnel. It s allowed the construction project to proceed on as scheduled.

Harrington said he really wanted to praise the students for their cooperation.