Just outside Ann Eversole’s office window is the sound of loud drilling.

“Some days it’s really noisy but that’s just the nature of the beast,” said Eversole, assistant vice provost for student success.

Eversole even joked that a co-worker said the noise was making her desk vibrate. Since April, construction has taken place behind Strong and Bailey Halls, closing parking behind the two buildings at the intersection of Jayhawk Boulevard and Sunflower Road.

The construction has affected many faculty and staff, including those that require handicapped parking and technicians who perform heavy lifting of equipment to and from their cars. And Donna Hultine, director of parking and transit, said the tunnel construction behind Bailey and Strong Halls wasn’t the only project being worked on during the summer months.

Later in the summer, there are plans to work on the far west section of the parking lot at the Lied Center and to take down the old multicultural resource center near the military science building to add more parking spaces in the area. Hultine said most of the construction was projected to be done by early August.

Hultine said she knew there were going to be problems with staff parking during the construction, so the department decided to let the staff park in the Kansas Union garage, which isn’t usually allowed.

“A lot of people took advantage of it,” Hultine said.

Eversole said she would park by Danforth Chapel and walk to her office. She said she thought the parking department made every attempt to let employees know about the project and what their options were.

“Parking is a problem on any major campus,” Eversole said. “It’s just a temporary disruption.”

Tony Brown, a systems specialist who works in Bailey Hall, also parks by Danforth Chapel. Brown said he didn’t think it was a “big deal” walking to work every day.

“If this was January, that could be a pain,” Brown said.

For Brown, the biggest inconvenience was not having a place to load and unload computers from Bailey to other parts of campus.

“I wish they had a spot for service vehicles, primarily KU vehicles,” Brown said.

Brown said he had done things such as getting up early, around 7 a.m., to staying after work and parking in front of Bailey to load computers into his car.

He said that although it was an inconvenience, it was not a big deal because he’s just one person. However, Brown said he imagined it was more difficult for those who needed handicapped parking.

Betty Childers, a senior administrative associate at the University Registrar office in Strong Hall, has a handicapped parking pass because she suffers from arthritis in her feet, legs and hips, which makes walking long distances and taking stairs difficult. Childers said she typically parked at the far end of Strong Hall or behind Snow Hall. Childers said she had to arrive early just to get a parking spot.

“Being here at 7:30 and I can’t find a parking spot is very frustrating,” Childers said.

Childers said the parking situation had also affected other co-workers.

“I’ve had conversations with several people with blue and gold permits about them having to park in the red zones and they’re unhappy with that,” Childers said.

According to the KU Parking and Transit department, the gold passes are for employees approved by the provost, blue passes are for faculty members whose age and years of service add up to a minimum of 62 years and red passes are for all University employees.

Some staff members said they were upset about the disruption of parking permits because they felt that their service and dedication to the University should earn them the privilege of parking in the gold and blue spots.

Those with gold permits can park directly in front and behind of Strong and Bailey Halls, whereas the red parking zone is located farther down the hill on Memorial Drive.

Childers also has difficulties with the Park and Ride system running from the Kansas Union garage. She said it wasn’t a good option for those with disabilities because of having to adjust to the bus schedule, but said she relied on it when she couldn’t find a close parking spot.

“If Park and Ride weren’t running, it would be really horrible,” Childers said.

Childers said that although parking had been difficult with the construction, she knew it was necessary.

“It was so uneven before,” Childers said. “I’m sure it will be a nice parking lot in the back, but time will tell.”

— — Edited by Kristen Liszewski