Locust Walk renovations slated to continue throughout the fall

Bumping into other students will not be the number one problem on Locust Walk this fall. Construction will be continuing into late fall on the main walkway of the University. "We will make it so that people can move around the work site," said Vice President of Facilities Management Art Gravina. "The construction definitely will not block traffic." Beginning in two weeks, the bluestones that line Locust Walk will be replaced with bitumous paver from Hastings. Executive Director of the Physical Plant James Wargo said last month that the construction would begin by the end of June. The project was delayed because of bidding difficulties, according to Gravina. "We're almost ready to go," he said. "All bids will be in by next week." During the last few weeks, the construction documents were also revised to meet the changes in the University's needs. The construction will continue until totally completed, Gravina said. First to be tackled is 36th Street since that it is the most frequented walkway. Gravina then plans to proceed east and west from the starting point. "We are doing everything possible to make sure the construction process doesn't greatly affect students," he said. "But we are also going to take our time and do our work thoroughly." Wargo predicts that installing the paver will cost half as much as installing new bluestones would. Each three-by-four foot block of bluestone costs $500, he explained. The University installed the current bluestones in 1977, with the expectation that the material would last 30 years. But the deterioration began after just 10 years. Wargo said the short-life of the bluestone was a result of several influences. "Over the years, more and more vehicles were accessing the Walk for whatever reasons," Wargo said. "But that was a problem because Locust Walk was specifically made for walking." Also, the 1977 plans called for three-inch thick bluestone, but the University used stones that were approximately two inches because of "availability problems," Wargo said. The disappointing bluestone expenditure led the University on a nineteen-year search to find the best replacement for the Locust Walk stones. Wargo visited quarries in several states, continually searching for a solution. The final choice is the same paver that was placed on the 38th Street Bridge five years ago. Wargo said the material is holding up very well. Hasting paver is a coal product that is mostly composed of tar, but also has a mixture of various stones. Bluestone will remain in certain sections of the campus, such as the Perelman Quadrangle and the Annenberg Center. "Besides the Walk, everything is great," Gravina said. "We're on time and budget with all the other renovation projects."