Update on Campus Entryway Project

While construction projects continue around campus, students remain most interested in the new campus entryway project and when it will be completed.

Construction on the new entryway began in the summer of 2022, but according to President David Olive the project was supposed to begin in the summer of 2021, but was delayed because of supply chain issues related to COVID. Even now, the president added, the project is progressing at a slow rate.

 “We’ve got different contractors doing different parts of the project,” Dr. Olive said about the reasons for the current delays. He explained that one contractor is in charge of the brickwork, including the centerpiece, roundabout, and two signs, while the other contractor is in charge of all the paving and concrete work, including the walkways and gutters.

“They can’t lay asphalt until that (brick) centerpiece is done,” the president said.

And with winter approaching, Dr. Olive is even more concerned the entryway project will be delayed even further. If the contractors can’t lay the asphalt before the winter, then they will have to wait until the spring to do so. Dr. Olive is hopeful that the brick centerpiece will be completed in the coming weeks. If the asphalt gets laid soon after, then the entryway signs can be put up as early as December. 

In addition to the campus entryway project, Dr. Olive said the university has plans to complete several other improvement projects in the coming years, including renovations to Cruise and Rish halls.

“We are doing a study of getting an estimate for our design elements for some of the halls,” Dr. Olive said. Cruise and Rish residence halls are among the oldest buildings on campus to not be remodeled since the school opened 100 years ago. Dr. Olive said the university hopes to begin some of the improvements to those facilities as early as next year, but added “that’s going to take a long-term plan.”