University Arena Project Manager Richard B. Laurance introduced a new University construction project Feb. 10 called the North Grounds Connector, which will help to ease traffic flow on grounds.
The North Grounds Connector, a $4.1 million, half-mile road connecting Massie Road to the Route 250 Bypass, will facilitate traffic flow after sporting and entertainment events once the John Paul Jones Arena opens in summer 2006. Laurance presented the North Grounds Connector construction schedule Feb.10.
"When the new arena was conceived and came into fruitation, we knew we had to help with the traffic because we are adding 400 new parking spots around the arena," Laurance said. "There had been a city plan for 20 or 30 years to put a road in this area. It all came together in 2001."
While preliminary construction begins this week, it will not affect the transportation of students. Major construction will begin May 22 after graduation, Laurance said.
"We have geared the construction around the students' schedule," he said.
Massie Road, which will be closed for most of the summer due to construction, will reopen prior to the fall semester August 22, Laurance said.
The University selected the Barton-Malow Inc. construction company for the John Paul Jones Arena Project.
The $128.8 million plan includes the North Grounds Connector, 1,500 parking spaces, the Dell Storm Water Project and the 15,000 occupancy new arena.
"We used a process of selecting companies based on a competitive negotiation process," Laurance said.
The process will allow the University to balance the cost of each of the contracts with the reputation of the respective companies, Laurance said.
The Barton-Malow company also was the construction manager for the renovation and expansion of Scott Stadium a few years ago.
"The arena project is different, because with the stadium, we had to work during football season and work in close proximity to people at the games," Barton-Malow Project Manager John Vanda said.
The projected completion date of the North Grounds Connecter is set for June 2006.
"Most of the construction is underground," Vanda said. "There could be some unforeseen problems, but we think we have enough time to take care of them."
As of yet, no offical name has been chosen for the North Grounds Connector, Laurance said.
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