Posted: 5/1/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Wesley Fane A bus drives past fences guarding the construction site outside of the Six Pack along Gregory Drive, on Tuesday. Construction for improvements in the area along began earlier this year at the former site of the Illini Orange.

There used to be a sidewalk along the south side of Gregory Drive.

Now there's only chain link fence.

The recent construction along Gregory and Peabody drives has altered the landscape of the residence halls in that area and its residential life. It will continue to do so until at least 2010 when the first phase of construction for a new dining facility and resident hall wing will be completed, said University spokesperson Robin Kaler.

However, construction has made safety around the residence halls a growing concern.

The lack of sidewalk along the south side of Gregory Drive creates a safety hazard, said Sgt. Tony Brown of the University police department.

"The problem we're having is a lot of students are walking in the street (because of construction)," he said.

The proper, and legal, place for pedestrians is the sidewalk on the north side of Gregory, but it is difficult to change resident's walking habits, Brown said. Many students still walk along the Gregory bike path, where they should not be.

But, pedestrian safety will be easier to teach the new residents next year.

"Everyone's just hoping to get through the rest of this year," he said.

Gregory construction has also impacted the bus routes in the area, which included a reroute of the 26 Pack bus line, said Robb Patton, director of operations for the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus system.

The original Gregory stop was forced farther east, past Euclid Street, while an additional stop location for the 26 Pack was added on the east side of First Street, north of Stadium Drive, to facilitate residents inconvenienced by construction, he said.

This stop change on Gregory Drive has also created a dangerous situation for bikers, said Patrick Quirke, freshman in LAS and resident of Forbes hall.

Continued...

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