Over winter break, crews will begin preparing to connect parts of Loop Road, starting a nearly yearlong project in early January that will better link parts of campus and resurface and restripe many of the parking lots.

The project focuses on connecting a segment of Loop Road that will extend from Parking Structure 3, through several lots, to the Supplemental Utility Plant to the south end of campus (see map). The project will also add another bridge near Lot R that will create a better route into campus using Facilities Way.

During the early stages of the project, barriers will be put up within various lots, but main entrances will not be affected.

Once completed, Loop Road will cross through the centers of parking lots A, B, C and D. Work will be completed in phases, starting with parking lots A and B. Portions of lots A and B are expected to be barricaded beginning the first week of January, but portions of those lots will remain open.

Once the road work is completed in lots A and B, the lots will be resurfaced and restriped. Crews will then begin work in lots C and D following the same process. Weather permitting, the parking lot phases of the project should be completed before the start of the fall 2015 semester. All phases of the project are expected to be complete by late fall 2015.

Also during the break, construction will continue on the North Mall Enhancement Project, slated for completion in spring 2015, and on the new Bioengineering and Sciences Building, expected to be completed in late 2015. There will also be further expansion in Synergy Park North with the addition of a wellness center for faculty and staff.

“As a maturing campus, it is extremely important that we address key infrastructure and service issues,” said Dr. Calvin D. Jamison, vice president for administration. “Though challenging, we are excited about the University’s growth and are looking forward to the projects we have on the horizon that will support our faculty, staff and students, as well as many future generations of Comets.”

Facilities Management crews will also work in several buildings during the break — painting walls, refinishing floors and completing renovations and maintenance. This work will include a shutdown of the Central Energy Plant (CEP) and Satellite Utility Plant (SUP), which affects heating and air conditioning only, from 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, through Saturday, Dec. 27.

Planned power outages are also scheduled for Lloyd V. Berkner Hall (BE), Eugene McDermott Library (MC), and Waterview Science and Technology Center (WSTC) on Monday, Dec. 22.

Visit the Pardon Our Progress website for additional updates on these and other projects happening on campus.