Construction on the new overpass will extend into the fall semester, with the structure re-opening in late October, along with construction on the East End Expansion, the majority of which is expected to be completed by spring of 2019.

Over the summer, the underground parking garage as well as several building structures were completed as a part of the East End expansion.

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Ongoing construction next to Seigle Hall has closed part of the walkway to Sumers Recreation Center. Meanwhile, other construction projects near the East End of campus and the Overpass are progressing, with East End construction winding down summer 2019 and the Overpass reopening in October.

“There’s a lot of work to do over the summer [with] people moving in, signage going up, furniture moving in, some landscape, etc. But there will be landscape in [and] activities will happen,” University Architect James Kolker said. “We definitely will be sharing [the expansion] with the community at Commencement of next year.”

With the expected outflow of traffic from the underground parking garage, a right-hand turn is being added to Skinker Boulevard.

“Because there will be so many folks leaving the garage will make a left turn coming out of the garage and then will want to make a right turn down Skinker,” Kolker said. “It gives more capacity. So, if you’re making a right turn, you can make a right turn right onto Skinker, which will help with the flow [of traffic].”

Additionally, construction on the overpass to widen the bridge to 18 feet began this summer. The overpass is expected to re-open in October with new seperated bike and pedestrian pathways.

Construction on the Overpass continues as the University prepares for the school year. The Overpass, now expected to reopen in October, will be widened to 18 feet and will feature separated bike and pedestrian lanes.

“It was so narrow and, for years, because of the speed the bikes were taking—especially going down the ramp—there were a lot of near misses and not-near misses between pedestrians and bicyclists,” Kolker said.

Senior and Kingsbury resident Dana Citrin believes that the overpass construction has the potential to decrease student safety as students take alternate routes to the Centennial Greenway and the Loop.

“I think what’s going on is making things less safe, at least for the time being. That was a walkway with blue lights, that was a walkway that was highly monitored by WUPD at all hours of the day. So now, students could be coming from anywhere to get back home if they live over there or if they live by the Loop,” Citrin said. “There’s no way for Wash. U. to monitor and keep students safe with these current detours.”

In addition to these current projects, the University is looking next to complete renovations on older buildings on campus. Some of the renovations will include converting auditorium halls to flat-floor classrooms.

“We have a lot of these auditorium-type classrooms on campus, and we thought this was the great opportunity to do a flat floor,” Kolker said. “[It’s a] priority to think about teaching pedagogies now and active-learning classrooms with the flat floor where students [can] work in group.”

Kolker is looking forward to repurposing existing spaces across the Danforth campus.

“The East End is a whole lot of new buildings, and we know it’s time to think about our historic, 118 year-old buildings,” Kolker said. “Our focus may shift to historic buildings on campus than big new buildings. We’ll see. One never knows, but that’s what I’m thinking about.”