Construction delayed because of ice
Construction all over the UA came to a halt after the ice storm, and the focus was shifted to cleaning up the damage left in the storm's wake
Jennifer Joyner
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: News
It's been two weeks since the UA reopened after an ice storm in January. The university is almost back to normal, but some campus construction is going to take a little more time because of the storm.
"It's been a hardship on all of us," said Robert Beeler, director of design and construction services at the UA.
"Construction work on campus was delayed quite a bit. The main thing that the ice storm cost us was time," he said.
Contractors were delayed at least two or three days, and they could not receive deliveries and workforce, Beeler said.
"[Facilities Management staff members] had to divert their efforts to taking care of damages" because they had to clean up fallen tree limbs on campus, he said.
Larger projects, such as the Garland Center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2010, were not affected very much by the storm.
The Garland Center, which will include a parking garage, a bookstore and other shops, is "a huge project with a very long timeline," Beeler said. "There has not been a significant delay. So far, no contractors have asked for an extension on anything."
On campus, Facilities Management picked up a lot of the debris from the storm before students came back to class.
Lana Hackler, a freshman in marketing, said she didn't have any trouble getting around campus after the ice storm and didn't have to change the route to her classes in any way.
"I live in Yocum, and the biggest problem was ice on the steps," said Emily Keener, a sophomore majoring in psychology. "Also, when we went to eat at Brough [when the university was closed], we had to be careful of falling trees. There wasn't really a problem after school reopened."
One of the few problems students reported was not being able to cut through the Chi Omega Greek Theater area during the first few days of class because there were fallen limbs on the sidewalk.
"We didn't really have to reroute once we got to campus," although there were problems outside of campus, said Jessica Smith, a sophomore majoring in anthropology.
"Maneuvering around Fayetteville was pretty challenging," said Brian Crouch, a junior majoring in business finance.
Many students had to drive home, which was difficult.
"I had to go home because there was no electricity at my house," Smith said.
"It's been a hardship on all of us," said Robert Beeler, director of design and construction services at the UA.
"Construction work on campus was delayed quite a bit. The main thing that the ice storm cost us was time," he said.
Contractors were delayed at least two or three days, and they could not receive deliveries and workforce, Beeler said.
"[Facilities Management staff members] had to divert their efforts to taking care of damages" because they had to clean up fallen tree limbs on campus, he said.
Larger projects, such as the Garland Center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2010, were not affected very much by the storm.
The Garland Center, which will include a parking garage, a bookstore and other shops, is "a huge project with a very long timeline," Beeler said. "There has not been a significant delay. So far, no contractors have asked for an extension on anything."
On campus, Facilities Management picked up a lot of the debris from the storm before students came back to class.
Lana Hackler, a freshman in marketing, said she didn't have any trouble getting around campus after the ice storm and didn't have to change the route to her classes in any way.
"I live in Yocum, and the biggest problem was ice on the steps," said Emily Keener, a sophomore majoring in psychology. "Also, when we went to eat at Brough [when the university was closed], we had to be careful of falling trees. There wasn't really a problem after school reopened."
One of the few problems students reported was not being able to cut through the Chi Omega Greek Theater area during the first few days of class because there were fallen limbs on the sidewalk.
"We didn't really have to reroute once we got to campus," although there were problems outside of campus, said Jessica Smith, a sophomore majoring in anthropology.
"Maneuvering around Fayetteville was pretty challenging," said Brian Crouch, a junior majoring in business finance.
Many students had to drive home, which was difficult.
"I had to go home because there was no electricity at my house," Smith said.
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