On Nov. 20, construction began on Costa’s Stadium Way, the pathway connecting Peck to the athletic complex. This construction is projected to be completed in late May so as not to interfere with graduation.
According to Costa Principal Dr. Karina Gerger, the reason for the renovation is twofold: to replace the cement that currently paves the walkway, which is cracked and uneven, and to modernize the area. The renovation project will add a large, gated archway to the entrance of the pathway, enclosed trash bins, light poles, a cast-in-place logo on the announcer’s booth, benches at the walkway’s entrance, and new landscaping. While the project is beneficial for aesthetic and health and safety reasons, its obstruction of campus activities demonstrates that any future projects should take place over summer.
The completion of this project will benefit community members who attend events in Waller Stadium. The reconstruction of Stadium Way mitigates the risk of tripping by replacing the old, uneven concrete that paved the area. Additionally, the redesign of Stadium Way will improve the aesthetic appearance of the walkway, making it more congruent with the newly-constructed athletic complex.
However, the construction on the walkway may hinder spectators’ ability to access the bleachers during the winter and spring sports seasons. While the bleacher in Waller Stadium will still be accessible via the east, west, and field entrances, the construction on the walkway may deter elderly or disabled spectators from being able to watch games on the field because of the uneven pavement and limited sidewalk space. If the project had commenced over the summer, access to the bleachers would be limited for a shorter period of time.
According to Gerger, the Stadium Way construction necessitates changes in the evacuation routes of classes which normally exit to the football field in case of emergency. While the evacuation routes have been changed and a drill occurred on Dec. 14 to practice the new routes, in an emergency situation students may become confused due to the sudden change in procedure. If the construction was completed over the summer, students would have had the chance to practice alternative evacuation routes starting at the beginning of the school year, making them more routine.
Gerger states that the project began later than originally planned so as not to conflict with football season. While the project’s length means that it will overlap with school hours no matter when started, if it was completed over the summer vacation it would have less impact on students’ everyday activities and last for a shorter duration of the school year. If construction commenced on the day after graduation and was completed in the five-month window of time that is projected for the project, the process would only need to be expedited by about three weeks in order to be completed before football season begins, which would be possible because no students or faculty members would be regularly traversing the pathway during the summer months.
While the Stadium Way project is a necessary and welcomed improvement to Costa’s campus, its impediment to everyday campus activities goes to demonstrate that similar future construction projects should be postponed, and be completed over summer.
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