Plans are still underway to build two pedestrian bridges over Central Avenue nearly two years after a U of M graduate student was killed when a car hit him as he stood in the rain-drenched center lane on Central Avenue.
He was not the only pedestrian involved in an accident in the past ten years - another has been killed and one injured on the stretch of Central between Deloach and Zach Curlin.
Now, for the sake of student safety and improving drainage, Central will be lowered and two pedestrian overpasses will be built, spanning the street at the engineering and music buildings.
"We are awaiting a report from the city to give us a time frame," said Tony Poteet, assistant vice president of campus planning and design. "We would love to have the work start this summer if at all possible."
The $3.2 million plan was approved by the Memphis City Council on June 1, 2004, with a $750,000 grant coming from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and $1.5 million coming from the city of Memphis. The U of M will pay for the rest.
Currently, "pre-work" to lowering the street is underway, which consists of improving flood control and drainage, according to David Cox, executive assistant to the President for Partnerships and Administration, who also chairs the Strategic Planning Taskforce.
"Before we lower the street, there is flooding work (to be done), and the street project will follow that," he said.
Central will be lowered before work on the bridges begins so there won't be a sharp incline to climb before crossing, according to James Hellums, assistant vice president for the Physical Plant.
"The ones downtown are so high that no one ever uses them," he said.
The project also includes ornamental fencing and sidewalks, said Poteet, which will direct students to the overpasses.
Though the bridges will be built to help protect students, opinions differ on the benefit of their construction.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," said Justin Achelpohl, a sophomore graphic design major. "Students are on tight schedules as it is, and traffic will be crazy."
But Andrew Luther, a sophomore finance major, thinks that once the bridges are done, they will help hurried students.
"Students won't have to wait on traffic, and traffic won't stop for students, so it will help both drivers and people walking," he said.
The bridges will be very beneficial, according to William Porter, assistant vice president of Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
"We have to be concerned about the safety of students," he said. "We'll do anything we can to protect them."
Other projects in the works include re-routing Patterson Street at Walker and replacing West Hall.
Though there are no funds yet for the Patterson Street realignment, they will come in over the next three years, Poteet said.
The plan to replace West Hall has been approved, but it is part of a larger housing master plan that hasn't been completely agreed on, according to Daniel Armitage, associate dean of students.
"It may change and West may not be replaced at all," he said.
Though many students don't like the hassle of construction, said Porter, we have to look to the future.
"Construction means progress," he said. "It is important for students to understand that."
