Topic: Administrative
May 5, 2011
Ball State University will begin a traffic/pedestrian safety improvement project on May 9 at McKinley and Riverside avenues. The project will encompass the campus' largest pedestrian crossing, known as the Scramble Light. Improvements will extend about 150 feet to the north, east and west and will reach to University Avenue to the south.
The construction is the third phase in a federal transportation project that included work on McKinley from Riverside to Bethel avenues and on Neely Avenue from McKinley to New York avenues. The project has been funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the university.
"McKinley and Riverside avenues are major thoroughfares not only for our students but for the entire community," said Randy Howard, vice president for business affairs and treasurer for Ball State. "The goal of this project is safety."
New medians, sidewalks, traffic signals and bus pullouts will help reduce conflicting traffic patterns between pedestrians and vehicles, Howard said.
Since the intersection of McKinley and Riverside will be closed during the project, university officials recommend avoiding Riverside between Tillotson Avenue and Dill Street, and McKinley between University and Neely avenues. View a detour map, determined by the Indiana Department of Transportation. Motorists are encouraged to stay on main thoroughfares for detours to avoid increasing traffic in adjoining neighborhoods.
The project is expected to be complete on Aug. 6.
By Joan Todd, Executive Director of Public Relations