The Centennial Entryway: BU to Construct Roundabout at Entrance
Construction on Bluefield University’s new Centennial Entryway is expected to begin soon, though supply chain and production challenges have already delayed the project. Plans for new entryway signs and a roundabout in front of Lansdell Hall have yet to be implemented because the university is waiting on cast stone to arrive.
“The brick mason cannot begin the signs and center area of the roundabout until the cast stone arrives,” said President David Olive. “While we may see work commence in the next month or two, we will not have access to asphalt until next spring when asphalt plants reopen.”
Olive described the endeavor as “a project that would positively impact the campus and leave a legacy denoting the 100 year anniversary of the institution.” It is part of the Campus Master Plan that was developed soon after Olive’s arrival at Bluefield University. This project also addresses the need for new signs after the institution’s name change from Bluefield College.
After completion of the project, there will be more parking spaces on campus, but construction will impact parking in front of Lansdell Hall and beside Harman Chapel.
“The civil engineer has designed a plan in which the entryway can continue to be used, even while the project is under construction. There will be points, however, such as when asphalt is being laid, that the entryway will be temporarily closed,” Olive said.
BU students had mixed reactions to the plans for the new entryway.
“At first glance, I hate it, it seems overly complicated for a small campus like ours,” Tim Gasperson said, “but after thinking about it further, our campus plans to continue to grow, and connecting VanDyke (Circle) to the rest of the campus would be much more convenient than having to wait on the left turn out onto College Avenue. That intersection is dangerous as is, and I believe that people will learn how to use the intersection properly and this will also make our campus seems more cohesive.”
“I think it would be a good addition, as it would give more Rish (Hall) residents and commuters more parking space,” Antowyne Shaw said.
There are also concerns about construction times, temporary closures of the entryway, and loss of access to parking near the chapel, especially for commuters in the music and theatre programs.
The roundabout is expected to function better than the current entryway and “add a thematic and grand entry as one arrived to campus,” Olive said when recalling the architect’s vision.
“In addition, as the entryway to VanDyke Circle is removed, the roundabout allows for traffic to enter and exit through the front entryway in an orderly manner that hopefully assists travelers to easily navigate travel in either direction they are heading, rather than having an intersection that would require each vehicle coming to a complete stop,” Olive said.
