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Campus Road and Utility Projects for Summer 2022

Renovations and repairs will temporarily affect the flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic on campus

An orange traffic cone.
From utility work to repaving projects, there will be plenty of work being done on Duke's campus this summer. Photo by Stephen Schramm.
Stephen Schramm @WorkingatDuke

This summer, several renovation and utility projects will gear up in some of the most visible and heavily-trafficked areas of Duke’s campus.

Here’s what you need to know about the projects Duke Facilities Management will be overseeing this summer, and how they will affect the flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic on campus.

ABELE QUAD UTILITY PROJECT

The bus stop at Abele Quad will be closed due to construction for much of the summer. Photo courtesy of University Communications. What’s happening: A water main replacement project will limit traffic to the section of Chapel Drive near Abele Quad. Most work will be done on the northeast side of Abele Quad, near the Allen Building.

What to expect: Beginning Monday, March 16, the Chapel Drive bus stop next to Abele Quad will be closed for the summer for utility projects. Affected routes, including C-1 and C-Swift Shuttle, will drop off and pick up riders at a temporary bus stop on Flowers Drive between the Allen Lot and Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Passengers with ADA requests should contact Duke Transit dispatch at 919-684-2218 to be dropped off or picked up at a particular building or Abele Quad. All other traffic will be restricted on Chapel Drive during weekdays and the section will be closed on nights on weekends.

Expected completion: Work will is expected to be completed in early August.

KILGO QUAD RENOVATION

Kilgo Quad, near the Brodhead Center, will undergo renovations before the fall semester begins. Photo courtesy of University Communications. What’s happening: A cluster of dorms in Kilgo Quad will be converted into common, multi-functional space as a way to demonstrate the new Quad-based style of residential living.

What to expect: Union Drive near the Bryan Center will be used as a staging area for the project, meaning access will be limited to work vehicles only beyond the Student Wellness Lot.

Expected completion: The work in Kilgo will begin in June and be completed in August.

PARKING LOT LIGHTING PROJECT

The Graduate Center Lot and H-Lot will get lighting upgrades this summer. Photo by Stephen Schramm. What’s happening: Upgrades to the lights in the Graduate Center Lot and the H-Lot, will improve safety in the parking areas, which are located near Central Campus.

What to expect: Small sections of the lot will be closed as work is done.

Expected completion: The work is slated to begin in August and wrap up in December.

DUKE CHAPEL WINDOW & PEW RESTORATION

The stained glass windows on Duke Chapel wil be restored and reinforced during a five-year project. Photo courtesy of University Communications. What’s happening: The first phase of a five-year window restoration project will begin this summer. Several of the large stained-glass windows on the Chapel will be restored and reinforced. Also, metal brackets will be installed to the undersides of some of the pews to prevent them from coming apart when moved.

What to expect: A small section of the paved area in front of Duke Chapel will be used as a staging area for equipment and scaffolding used in the project.

Expected completion: The first phase of the project is expected to begin in June and be completed in May 2023. All phases are expected to be complete by June 2026.

CHILLED WATER THERMAL STORAGE PROJECT

Parking lots near Chilled Water Plant No. 3 on Central Campus will be repaved during the summer. Photo by Stephen Schramm. What’s happening: Work on the Chilled Water Thermal Storage Tank next to Chilled Water Plant No. 3 on Central Campus is complete. But the parking lots that served as staging areas for the project will be repaved this summer.

What to expect: Two of the remote overflow parking lots along Yearby Avenue near Alexander Avenue, both of which have been closed during the construction of the storage tank, will remain closed until the paving is complete.

Expected completion: Details are still coming together, but the work is expected to be completed in July.

EAST CAMPUS TRANSFORMER REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Work on the electrical transformers serving Alspaugh and Pegram Residence Halls, as well as Baldwin Auditorium, will take place this summer. Photo by Stephen Schramm.king What’s happening: As part of a multi-year upgrade of the high voltage electrical system on East Campus, new transformers will be installed to serve Baldwin Auditorium, and Pegram and Alspaugh Residence Halls. Underground cables will be installed to connect the buildings to the new transformers and the old transformers will be removed from the utility tunnels beneath the buildings. 

What to expect: There will be work zones near the Biddle Music Building, Baldwin Auditorium and Pegram and Alspaugh Residence Halls. Expect some minor disruptions for parking and pedestrian traffic.

Expected timeline: Work is expected to begin in July and could continue as late as January 2023.

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