Construction has been a relevant topic on campus for quite some time and the issue has caused an uproar amongst the student body. The hassles with the Stadium Drive project have caused traffic congestion and inconsistent travel time.
“I used to always drive down this road [Stadium Drive] going to school and especially when I’d go work out at the Rec, but when I got back this summer it was totally blocked off and I had no idea. That was definitely a problem, and probably for game day it’s going to be a really big problem,” Sarah Kirkpatrick, a senior Fashion Merchandising major, said.
Kirkpatrick said, it’s been hard trying to estimate arrival time to and from campus and that some of her friends that commute, get to campus a hour early just to find parking.
The Stadium Drive construction stems from demands to expand the football stadium. A new water main was needed to replace the old one, which revealed Fort Worth infrastructure repair was also necessary.
Patrick Mucker, the project manager, said the water line provides fire water and domestic water to residents and campus buildings along Stadium Drive, including Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The expansion of the football stadium demanded proper infrastructure which led to the coordination between TCU, the Fort Worth Water Department, and Dunaway Associates.
“A little over 12 months ago we [Dunaway Associates] were contacted by TCU to join their team to come in and help work through the infrastructure issues as it relates to the stadium project,” Chris Wilde, Director of Private Sector Services at Dunaway Associates, said.
Dunaway Associates, an architectural engineering company based in Fort Worth, teamed with TCU and provided drawings on what the new water main installation should look like.
The construction also required government approval. Dunaway Associates has been in extensive coordination with the city of Fort Worth water department to make sure changes meet city standards and TCU standards.
Though construction has been a problem for students, Kirkpatrick said she knows it is necessary.
“I think its just kind of a fact of life and we have to deal with it, but it’s pretty much always an inconvenience,” Kirkpatrick said.
She said she understood the improvement of the overall campus, but that maybe construction could occur on school breaks or holidays to better accommodate students.
Wilde said the construction on Stadium Drive should be complete by early October.
“It will look like a new street when it’s complete,” Wilde said.
The project costs close to $1 million.
