Construction Disruption Log

Bus Shelter Installations Along Drive A, Rutford to Start Monday, Jan. 18

Crews for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) are to begin installing bus shelters for Route 883 on campus Monday, Jan. 18. DART is providing shelters for Comet Cruiser bus stops on campus along Drive A and Rutford Avenue. The initial phase involves preparing the supporting structures for the shelters at each site and is scheduled to take five or six days. Starting with stops at the intersection of Drives A and H, the work will progress east along Drive A and then head north along Rutford. Crews will work two or three sites at a time to minimize traffic disruptions. Drivers may encounter construction equipment and vehicles on streets, and pedestrians may want to avoid sidewalks where crews are working. For more information, please contact Kelly Kinnard, director of Physical Plant Services, at 972-883-2549.

Crews Place Concrete for Sidewalk North of McDermott Library

Crews poured concrete Tuesday to re-form the sidewalk in front of McDermott Library. Another concrete placement is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Concrete should take a few hours to set and will not be harmed by rain, which is forecast on Thursday. For more information, please contact Kelly Kinnard, director of Physical Plant Services, at 972-883-2549.

Part of Founders' Third Floor to Close for Tile Work, Jan. 9-10

Part of the third floor of Founders Hall (FO), near where it connects with Founders North (FN), will be closed starting at 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, to allow construction workers to install new floor tile in the center main hallway. During this time, access to Founders will be limited to an approach from the Founders Annex elevated walkway. Founders hallway should be reopened Sunday morning, Jan. 10. For more information, please contact Bill Elvey, director of Engineering, Construction and Planning for Facilities Management, at 972-883-2124.

Doors at Northeast Corner of Berkner Reopening Wednesday, Jan. 6

The northeast doors of Berkner Hall will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 6. The doors have been closed since Nov. 30 so crews could install a new sidewalk, ramp and planters between Berkner and the Math, Science and Engineering Teaching-Learning Center (MSET).

Rutford Avenue Narrowed to One Lane of Traffic Till Jan. 12

Rutford Avenue will be narrowed to a single lane of vehicular traffic near the Central Energy Plant for two weeks starting Tuesday, Dec. 29, and ending Tuesday, Jan. 12, so that crews can tie in electrical lines for emergency back-up generators to the upcoming Math, Science, and Engineering Teaching-Learning Center (MSET). Power to campus will not be adversely affected. On Saturday, Jan. 2, both the north- and south-bound lanes of Rutford will be closed all day to traffic, including Comet Cruiser Route 883. There is no shuttle service on Sundays, so the Comet Cruiser will resume service Monday, Jan. 4. To do the electrical work, crews will create a hole in the street, rendering Rutford's southbound lane impassable until concrete is replaced and set. Weather permitting Rutford will reopen to two-way traffic on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Fall Commencement Ceremonies to Boost Traffic, Fill Up Lots on Dec. 18, 19

Eight commencement exercises – one each for the School of Management’s undergraduate and graduate students Friday and combined ceremonies Saturday for the Schools of Behavioral and Brain Science and of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences; the School of Arts and Humanities and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; and the Schools of Interdisciplinary Studies and of Natural Sciences and Mathematics – will lead to filled parking lots and increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic near the Activity Center on Dec. 18 and 19. Please allow extra time for traveling to graduation celebrations on campus. UT Dallas police will post signs and direct traffic to help guests arrive at these events. For those using University Parkway, the main entrance off Campbell Road, parking Lot J will be the closest lot to the Activity Center. It is expected to fill quickly. Police will be in place to direct visitors to overflow parking in Lots M, Q and D to the east, which can be reached off Armstrong Drive. For those approaching campus off Waterview Parkway from the west, parking will be available in Lot H near Hoblitzelle Hall and Lot I near Conference Center.  Travel east on Drive A to the three-way stop sign at Drive H and head north past an open field on the passenger side, preparing to turn right into any of the next four driveways. Park and walk out of the lots back to Drive H and head south to Drive A. Turn left walking east toward the Activity Center.

Lights for Parking Lot J can be seen to the left of the Activity Center, site of fall graduation ceremonies.

New Route Through Landscape Enhancement Project to Debut This Week

The fenced-in concrete sidewalk through the active Campus Landscape Enhancement Project site between the Student Union and McDermott Library goes away this week and a new one will appear several yards south beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16. The new  sidewalk can be accessed from the Student Union’s eastside ground-level exits. The fenced-in sidewalk crosses the active construction site toward the center of McDermott Library’s west face. The path heads south, hugging the library’s perimeter until it reaches Drive B, a small street that runs between McDermott and the Bookstore. McDermott Library's north entrance will be the only access point after the original fenced-in sidewalk shuts down on Dec. 21. The new sidewalk crossing the construction zone will require pedestrians to walk completely around the library to get inside. As such, the new sidewalk seems best suited for travel between the SU and the School of Management, Bookstore or parking Lots C, D, G and Q. The fastest way to reach McDermott Library's north entrance will be from points north of the Founders Hall renovation.

The new fenced-in sidewalk becomes the sole east-west passage through an active construction zone on Dec. 21. Other east-west passages include entry circle near the School of Management and the ramps between Founders and Founders North.

The north-south passage between Founders and Founders Annex has been reopened. Just west, between Founders Annex and Berkner Hall, another north-south pathway and the wooden access ramp that helps guide pedestrians there, remain open.

Outdoor Pathway between Founders, Founders Annex Reopened

Construction crews reopened the main north-south outdoor path between Founders Hall and Founders West Annex this morning, Dec. 14.  The path had been barred since Nov. 16, when crews gained access to a manhole to complete electrical tie-in work for the Founders renovation project. Pedestrians used a detour to a pathway just to the west, between the Annex and Berkner Hall. The wooden access ramp that was built and optional pathway will remain open indefinitely.

Buildings May Chill a Bit as Plant's Thermal Utility Maintained Over Winter Break

The University’s Central Energy Plant (CEP) will be shut down for its annual maintenance from 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 through Wednesday, Dec. 23.  The thermal system will be fully operational on Thursday, Dec. 24.  The shutdown was scheduled while the University is officially closed for winter break to minimize disruption to the campus. During the shutdown, all Central Energy Plant electrical equipment, devices and systems can be safely inspected, cleaned, and maintained to ensure optimal performance. The shutdown will not affect power in any campus buildings. All buildings - except NSERL - will be locked. A police escort will be required to gain access.  In the event of severe weather, the contractor will work closely with University Facilities Management personnel to keep buildings above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If weather does not permit, the timing of the shutdown may be altered or called off. For more information please contact Steve Lyles, Facilities Management Utilities Superintendent, at 469-426-5910.