Campus construction slows traffic

By Sachiko Miyakawa

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The repairs of steam tunnels on campus altered the KU bus routes and closed part of Jayhawk Boulevard and Mississippi Street this summer.

The construction zones in front of Watson Library and on Mississippi Street allow construction crews to do maintenance on the deteriorated steam tunnels, which carry heat from the power plant to the majority of campus buildings.

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Quick Construction Map

1. North College Drive or the GSP/Corbin circle drive is closed and under construction.

2. Indiana Street is closed between 11th and 12th streets because of the construction of the Oread Inn.

3. Jayhawk Boulevard is closed for motorists between Mississippi Street and Lilac Lane.

4. Mississippi Street is closed from Memorial Drive to Jayhawk Boulevard.

5. KU buses travel Memorial Drive.

Source: University Relations

Jill Jess, University spokeswoman, said most of the steam tunnels were installed in the past century. She said the tunnels had not been maintained as they needed to be because of a lack of funding, but thanks to the Kansas Legislature, the University received $8.9 million for the repairs. The project began this summer and will continue until 2010.

Jess said the construction zones created two major road closures until Aug. 11. Mississippi Street is closed from Memorial Drive to Jayhawk Boulevard and Jayhawk Boulevard is closed between Mississippi Street and Lilac Lane. KU buses detour down Memorial Drive because of the closure.

“Jayhawk Boulevard is the heart of campus and the main artery for campus,” Jess said. “But this is also vital work that has to be done, so we tried to do it in summer when there are fewer people around.”

Danny Kaiser, assistant director of Parking and Transit, said parking was not available on the north side of Memorial Drive. He said this should not create much inconvenience because it took away fewer than 20 spots.

Jim Modig, director of design and construction management, said the project had been one of the University’s top maintenance priorities because many of the tunnels were old and deteriorating structurally. He also said the tunnels did not meet current safety codes.

“We have had some minor problems down there,” Modig said. “We have been very fortunate not to a have major incident.”

Modig said the steam tunnels carried electricity, communication lines and steam to the campus buildings. Many campus buildings, including the Kansas Union, Fraser Hall and the scholarship halls, rely on steam to warm water and heat the buildings. He said the buildings would not be able to heat up in winter without a proper maintenance of the pipes.

— Edited by Ramsey Cox

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