Pedestrian paths on Quad to undergo renovation

Project will begin this summer to be completed by fall semester

by Stephanie Strauss / senior writer

Construction of new sidewalks on the Quad will begin following graduation as part of an ongoing project to replace and renovate pedestrian pathways at JMU.

Dave Mars, engineering manager of Facilities Management said, "the main new sidewalks will follow the path of the existing sidewalks that travel from the pedestrian mall to South Main Street." Mars said the pedestrian mall is the walkway that connects the James Madison statue plaza with the sundial plaza near Keezell Hall.

Also being renovated are the paths which travel across the Quad from Jackson Hall to Alumnae Hall and from Harrison Hall to Sheldon Hall. These walks will be concreted of brick pavers similar to those found near the James Madison statue.

The Quad walkways have changed over the century. "The very first ones in the early 1900s were made of wood," Mars said. "They are being replaced in order to make them wider to accommodate increased pedestrian traffic."

Mars said replacement and installation of sidewalks takes place every summer. The new sidewalks are being designed to complement the new pedestrian malls that were constructed last year.

Typically, large construction projects are restricted to the summer months in order to lessen the impact on campus. Provisions will be made to accommodate pedestrian traffic around the work area during the summer.

Harrisonburg Construction Company is carrying out the project, which is scheduled to be completed before fall semester. The planning and design was created by the administration and JMU's Facilities Management Division.

"I think the new pathways will make the Quad look nicer, especially after all the work that has been done recently," junior Katrina Weiss said. "Widening them will also make it easier for two-way traffic."

Graduate student Doug Roberts remembers when the Quad used to be fenced off because students kept wearing down paths in the grass. "I think that the new sidewalks that have already been added look nice, but I wish the university would allocate money toward more important projects."