The University of Virginia has started construction on a project just steps away from its iconic Rotunda that should provide a greater barrier between pedestrians and motor vehicles along the bustling University Avenue that wraps around Grounds.
The work, expected to last until the end of the year, involves augmenting the low wall that currently runs parallel to the street. In addition to a larger barrier, the university’s Facilities Management team will tear up the existing curb to install a mountable one with more of a slope, so as not to damage any tires that may run into it.
“The current curb is almost flush with the road, and this will create a more substantial demarcation between the pedestrian path and the roadway,” the project coordinator Megan Buschi said in a statement announcing the project.
Construction crews will also be removing the planters that are currently sitting along University Avenue, which will be repurposed by the school’s ReUse Store. The program, also operated by the Facilities Management department, is intended to reduce the amount of waste being placed into landfills with more sustainable solutions.
In addition, crews will also be putting in place a number of safety-minded structures across Grounds, such as paving stones, vehicular curbs and bollards that can be removed in emergencies. The brick walkway around the north side of the Thomas Jefferson-designed Rotunda, "showing signs of wear" and threatening compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, will also be replaced, Buschi said. Some of the old bricks will be stored by ReUse while others will be salvaged for spot replacement.
“The new brick will improve the surface by reducing friction, making the path more comfortable and accessible for all users,” Buschi said.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com
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