Sections of campus were closed Thursday continuing into today as paving projects that were delayed earlier this summer are finished.
Steven Devine | Argonaut
Construction workers put down new asphalt on Railroad Street as part of many paving projects that are going on around the University of Idaho campus.
Originally, Renfrew West Loading Dock, Renfrew North Generator Driveway, the Lot 14 Compactor Site and the University of Idaho Garage Driveway were going to be temporarily inaccessible for paving. But the UI Garage and the Renfrew West Loading Dock were unexpectedly done ahead of time as the contractor needed to be in St. Regis a day early.
Charles Zillinger, UI Director of Landscape & Exterior Services, said the projects were a chance to finish up paving before it gets too late into the year.
“This is basically the tail end of the paving projects on campus for the summer of 2012,” Zillinger said. “These projects were small ones that were delayed for one reason or another and are getting taken care of now.”
Zillinger said the Renfrew West dock was being worked on because the previous garbage truck had created ruts in the pavement about 10 inches deep.
“With the use of the new trash toter system in place, this shouldn’t happen again, as these units are much smaller and are hauled out with a small pickup rather than a large front load trash truck,” Zillinger said.
Zillinger said the Renfrew North Generator Driveway was being worked on to provide yearlong access for service and repair vehicles, as generators get inspected monthly. Two projects were being worked on at the Lot 14 Compactor Site as a new compactor was being installed as well as the Engineering Vehicle Research Lab renovation project. The UI Garage Driveway is being redone because of heavy use over the years and the installation of an oil separator.
“It was a kill two birds with one stone deal,” Zillinger said. “We have installed the necessary drainage piping and catch basin where part of the broken pavement was, and then removed the rest to replace the driveway for another 20 years of use.”
All of the paving is expected to be finished today and after 24 hours the pavement will have cured the roads, which should become accessible to vehicles.
Zillinger said there is only one more paving project planned this year, which is the area around the tunnel repair project at the intersection of University Drive and Campus Drive. The target date for that project is set for the end of September.
Jacob Dyer can be reachedat [email protected]