Motorists will encounter changes in traffic patterns this summer as workers at West Virginia University complete over $200 million in construction and infrastructure projects on the Downtown Campus.
Planners are minimizing the disruption to parking and roadways, but some re-routing of traffic is necessary to ensure the safety of automobile and pedestrian traffic around the sites.
Major construction on two of the projects will occur over the summer months when commuter levels are at their lowest point and before WVU s student body returns for classes in August.
Several areas on the Downtown Campus will be impacted by the installation of a chilled water loopa system of pipes and underground electrical cables that will distribute cool water and regulate the temperature of University buildings. The chilled water system will provide greater energy efficiency than the current old individual building units or window air conditioning units, thereby conserving natural resources and reducing operational expenses.
Work is also being completed on the pedestrian bridge that will connect each side of University Avenue between the Business and Economics building and Oglebay Hall. An estimated 2,000 students will utilize the bridge each day, providing safe crossing and minimizing the disruption to automobile traffic.
University Avenue
As the construction of the new pedestrian bridge is under way, traffic on University Avenue between Oglebay Hall and the Business and Economics Building may be limited to one lane from now through early August. Although no impact to parking in the surrounding area is expected, the sidewalk adjacent to the Business and Economics building will be closed for the duration of construction.
Traffic lanes on University Avenue are scheduled to be closed completely from the intersection of College Avenue to the intersection of Stewart Street and Campus Drive from July 10-20 as the superstructure of the bridge is completed. Sidewalks in the immediate area will also be closed during the period as well. Alternate routes would include the use of Beechurst Avenue and Stewart Street.
Maiden Lane
Construction teams will be working on portions of Maiden Lane from the College Avenue entrance to the intersection of North High Street and Prospect Street between May 15 and Aug. 1.
The project will install underground electric cables that will provide a redundant power supply for the chilled-water facility to be located at the corner of Prospect Street and North High Street.
One-lane traffic will be maintained during construction, but parking will be reduced in Area 6 during this period. It is anticipated that employees displaced by reduced parking may be accommodated within the Mountainlair Parking Garage.
WVU employees impacted by these parking issues are asked to contact the Parking Office for assistance at 293-5502.
North High Street
A small University building located near the intersection of North High Street and Prospect Street will be razed as a part of the expansion of the Chemistry Research Lab building and installation of a chilled water facility near the site.
Work is expected to begin May 16 and be completed by early June. No impact to traffic is expected, however the sidewalk in front of the location will be closed to pedestrian traffic during the construction.
The building currently houses the Regional Research Institute, which will relocate to new offices in the Prete Building on University Avenue.
University Avenue at Colson Hall
As the University completes renovations on Colson Hall and connects the building to the chilled water loop, traffic will be reduced to one lane on University Avenue from June 15 through July 15 for a short distance on University Avenue directly in front of the building. No impact to parking in the area is expected.
The project may also involve the closure of Hough Street in June as workers install equipment in the lower level of Colson Hall exact dates have not been determined.
The work will also provide connections for two additional chilled water loops that will serve other portions of the Downtown Campus in the future.
View a map of downtown projects