The new bridge will allow students to cross over two roads and the train tracks that run along Southern Avenue. (Photo by Jonathan Capriel)
Students and faculty can expect delays on their morning commute to campus this week as the University of Memphis begins to build improvements to the cross walks around the Southern Avenue railroad tracks.
In an email sent to faculty, staff and students David Zettergren, vice president of U of M’s business and finance, said the university will soon begin construction of a fence around the train tracks that run through the middle of campus. The university will also add handicap accessible rams to railroad crossing areas.
Zettergren wrote that people should use caution when driving and crossing the tracks.
University of Memphis students have crossed the Southern Avenue train tracks for decades. But
where a student can cross is going to be limited in the coming months when U of M officials build
a fence along the tracks. A Daily Helmsman photographer snapped this photo of students crossing
the tracks in 1974.
“Allow extra time when coming to campus due to the possibility of delays,†he said.
Zettergren also shared a video of what the new railroad crossing areas would look like.
The new crosswalks will not just be fully handicap accessible, but a great visual improvement, said Gerry Keen the campus planning and design construction representative for this project.
Students risked life and limb when a train on stopped blocking their way to class and their cars in the Southern parking lot, Thursday afternoon. A few students began to climb on top of the train in order to cross. Campus Police yelled at students, “If you cross the train, I will lock you up.” Plans are underway to build a pedestrian bridge. The project is expected to cost nearly $18 million and has already raised student fees by more than $300.
“It will be fully accessible,†he said. “It’s the back/front door of the campus, so its appearance is very important. It will give the campus a much needed visual improvement.â€
Both Norfolk Southern Railway and contractor Allen & Hoshall, will begin work some time this week, Keen said.
Students and staff will still be able to park near and walk across the tracks during construction, but Keen said it would be a good idea for students to avoid Southern Avenue and instead come through Spottswood Avenue.
Zettergren said the project should be finished before the beginning of the fall semester.
The fence will likely end the long standing tradition of students illegally crossing the Southern railroad tracks at any point by limiting access to just designated walkways.
The project is expected to cost a little more than $1.6 million, said Tony Poteet, assistant vice president of campus planning and design, to a Daily Helmsman reporter in February.
About 80 percent of the project is being paid for by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The U of M will cover the remainder of the cost.
Long term, however, the University of Memphis will build a pedestrian bridge over the Southern rail road tracks, likely ending the problem of trains (both moving and stopped) from blocking students and faculty from getting to their cars or class.
That project is expected to cost at least $18 million, and is paid for entirely by student fees.
Recently, Bruce Harber, campus chief of police, emailed students and faculty warning them of the dangers of climbing over stopped trains.
“For your safety, NEVER climb on, over or through a stopped train,†Harber said. “In addition to the life-threatening danger involved, it is also against the law.â€
In a recent email to university staff, students and faculty, Bruce Harber addressed the increase of train hopping. Censoring the students was an act of focusing on the issue at hand rather than punishing students said Harber. The University of Memphis has begun to build a fence bordering the tracks to prevent further train hopping. Construction for a pedestrian bridge is also in the
works, said to open in 2018.
