The decision to close the road will allow the contractor, E&B Paving, to complete the project before classes begin in the fall. The work site will be available to the contractor seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but E&B will determine what hours must be worked to complete the project on time, said Jim Lowe, director of facilities assessment and engineering, Facilities Planning and Management.

"It's an aggressive schedule, but it's attainable; that's why we decided to close the area completely, so the contractor could work with 100 percent of the area," he said. "We didn't want any restrictions on their ability to complete the project on schedule."

The university has been working with the city, neighborhood communities and the Indiana Department of Transportation to ease the inconvenience the project may cause.

On campus, Lowe has been working with departments and organizers of summer programs that will be affected by the construction. Anyone who has questions should call Lowe at 285-2805.

"Between the road and building construction this summer, this amount of work is unprecedented," Lowe said. "It will certainly require patience on the part of many people, and we'll be here to help people and groups adapt and adjust to the construction."

Construction at the Communication Media Building site is in full swing, and the area is fenced off. The building is due to be completed spring 2007.

Site work for a new residence hall has begun, and a groundbreaking ceremony may take place in June with the building scheduled to open in fall 2007.

Phase two of the McKinley project will repair the street between Petty Road and Bethel Avenue. Full-scale construction will begin the day after the 2006 commencement.

More information about construction on campus is available online.