6 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY,JULY17,2002
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Workers continue repairs on Memorial Drive Tuesday morning. Years of erosion near the hillside road caused buckling beneath the concrete.
Crews work to improve Memorial Drive
By Todd Smith Kansan staff writer
Construction at the west end of Memorial Drive has blocked traffic since the beginning of the month, but the hassle is nearing its end.
Maintenance crews are replacing the road and its base and adding a new drainage system. The crews are repairing damage caused by age and erosion.
Greg Wade, landscape architect of design and construction management at the University of Kansas, said the street had been closed from West Campus Road to the west end of Snow Hall, south of Memorial Stadium.
"This section of the road has been deteriorating for several years because it is on the side of the hill and it has been subject to buckling and cracking," Wade said.
Wade said the project was funded by Legislative funding. The entire project costs $250,000.
He said there were plans to do renovations on all of Memorial Drive.
Wade said he expected the current project to be completed by Aug. 18.
Jim Modig, director of design and construction management, said $200,000 had been allocated for the section that
spanned the area behind Snow Hall for nextyear.
He said construction would start on this section after commencement next year and be finished by the fall semester of 2003.
He said the funding came in increments after the Legislature approved the Educational Building Fund each year.
"This is the way the funding comes and this is the way we will make improvements," Modig said.
Wade said parking along the south side would change from parallel spaces to regular 90-degree spaces. Parking will be eliminated along the north side of the street because of the expansion, Wade said.
Parking along Memorial Drive will continue to be accessible from the east end where it meets Mississippi Street. The parking lot behind Carruth-O'Leary Hall is still accessible from the West Campus Road entrance.
Wade said repairs would begin at the other end of Memorial Drive once the funds became available.
Contact Smith at 864-4810. This story was edited by Matt Stumpff.
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