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West Campus Project to Impact Pedestrian, Traffic Flow

Utilities work underway at Union Drive and Towerview Road to November

Beginning Monday, Facilities Management will oversee a roughly seven-month project to upgrade and install utilities and infrastructure by the intersection of West Campus’ Union Drive and Towerview Road.

Pedestrian and vehicle traffic will initially see minimal impact during the first phase of construction from March 23 to April 5. However, pedestrian detours will begin in early April, and traffic flow will be affected in early May.

As part of the work, crews will be installing and relocating gas and hot water lines, as well as centralizing Duke’s emergency power system to better provide service to academic and athletic buildings, including the new Student Health and Wellness Center, which is expected to be constructed in 2016.

“The West Campus Steam Plant is one of the locations of our large generators, so we’ll be bringing power from that plant to Towerview for distribution to Athletics and other nearby buildings,” said Myron Taschuk, Facilities' project manager.

During all times of construction, crews will be on-site to direct pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Here is Facilities’ tentative schedule for work and each phase’s impact on pedestrian and vehicle traffic. All dates are projected and may be shifted due to inclement weather.

Phase 1March 23 to April 5

  • Fencing installed on southern end of Union Drive.
  • Pedestrian traffic from Penn Pavilion heading south will not be affected. 
  • Crosswalk from the Beta Lot will not be used.  Pedestrians will have to cross the street at the Union Drive-Towerview Road intersection. 

See a map of Phase 1 work.

Phase 2April 6 to May 4

  • Construction trailers will block a portion of the sidewalk on the north side of Towerview Road about 400 feet northwest from the Union-Towerview intersection.
  • ADA accessible ramps will be installed prior to sidewalk closure. 
  • The sidewalk on the north side of Towerview will still be open from the intersection of Union up to the first ADA ramp. 
  • Pedestrian traffic will not be allowed along the entirety of Union Drive from Penn Pavilion and will be rerouted across Union and around Beta Lot. 
  • Access to Beta Lot for permitted motorists will continue.
  • Signage will be installed indicating sidewalk closures, pedestrian crossings and ADA accessibility.  

See a map of Phase 2 work.

Phase 3May 5 to June 28

  • Eastbound lane of Towerview will be closed from Union-Towerview intersection about 400 feet northwest on Towerview. Temporary traffic signals will be installed to help maintain traffic flow.
  • Pedestrian impacts from Phase 2 remain in place.

See a map of Phase 3 work.

Phase 4June 29 to Sept. 4

  • All pedestrian traffic will be moved to the south side of Towerview Road. About 400 feet of sidewalk on the north side of the road from Union Drive to the edge of the construction area will be closed on July for the remainder of the project. 
  • Eastbound lane of Towerview will be closed from Union-Towerview intersection about 400 feet northwest on Towerview. Temporary traffic signals will be installed to help maintain traffic flow.

See a map of Phase 4 work.

Phase 5Sept. 5 to Oct. 4

  • Crews will install two temporary stop signs at both ends of construction on Towerview Road to help expedite traffic entering and exiting the site for construction-related deliveries.
  • Temporary traffic signals will be repositioned during this phase to better serve traffic flow as needed.
  • Eastbound lane of Towerview will reopen and a portion of the westbound lane will close.

See a map of Phase 5 work.

Phase 6Oct. 5 to Nov. 27

  • Some parking will be affected and Parking and Transportation Services will communicate with permit holders to accommodate new parking options.
  • A portion of Towerview Road's westbound lane by the Union Drive intersection will close.
  • Pedestrians will still need to detour around construction and use sidewalk on south side of Towerview until completion of project.

See a map of Phase 6 work.

For continued updates throughout the project and impacts to traffic, check back to Duke Today.