As the University prepares to begin construction of the new dormitory, Sophia Gordon Hall, and new music building in mid-April, workers will begin preparing construction sites on Talbot Avenue.
The ongoing construction will extend the University's electrical and telecommunications infrastructure from the Pearson Chemistry Building down Talbot Avenue, adjacent to the sites of both Sophia Gordon Hall and the music building.
Simultaneously, sewer, water and storm lines at the College Avenue end of Talbot will be reconfigured.
Workers will also re-route existing utility lines that run through the construction sites. It will also be necessary to relocate the driveway adjacent to Stratton Hall to make way for the dorm.
"This work is being done now in order to minimize the impact to the construction schedules of the dorm and music [building], both of which should start in mid-to-late April," Vice President of Operations John Roberto said. "Getting all the utility and road excavation work out of the way will allow easier access to both sites."
Due to the construction, a stairway that runs from 20 Professors Row to Talbot Avenue will be closed. Students living in Stratton and Richardson Halls will be most affected this change.
Unaza Khan, a sophomore living in Stratton, is annoyed with the stairway closure.
"It has impacted my life greatly. I used the back way from Stratton to go to my classes a lot, but now I can't use that," said Khan.
Stratton Resident Assistant (RA) senior Rachael Hereford has found this walkway closure a problem as well.
"I was not expecting for the walkway to be closed off, however, and that is a huge inconvenience. In fact, I fell in the snow head first yesterday trying to get around it. It's kind of a pain to get to class uphill because I have to trek through the snow or go through the campus center," Hereford said.
Many students have been complaining about the noise as well. Richardson resident sophomore Amanda Fencl, has found the construction clamor inconvenient.
"The one complaint I have is the jackhammers that started at 8 a.m. every morning for two to three weeks - having gone to bed at 2 or 3 a.m. the night before - [which] was a rude awakening."
Roberto responded to such complaints by promising that, "[Tufts will] make every effort to minimize disruption, but people will need to adapt to the inconvenience expected from two major projects of this size."
Residents of both Stratton and Richardson Halls received an e-mail last week from the Department of Public Safety detailing the upcoming construction-related changes. The e-mail stated other possible consequences of the construction, such as some noise due to excavation, re-routing of traffic, and temporary loss of some parking along Talbot Avenue.
The lower end of Talbot Avenue is expected to be under construction for the next 18 months.
"Tufts community members can expect limited or no pedestrian or vehicular access at times throughout the coming months," Roberto said.
Tufts Public Safety staff will be on duty, however, to facilitate the movement of traffic and to assist in parking control as needed.
In order to keep the community informed, the Tufts Construction Office will send e-mail notices to the community about anticipated impacts to the area. Additionally, the Tufts Department of Public Safety will make announcements on their Web site.
The construction of Sophia Gordon Hall and the new Music building is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 2006.
