Walking mall construction continues

Construction on the next phase of A&M-Commerce's walking mall began during spring break and is scheduled for completion in May.

According to Executive Director of Facilities and Support Services David McKenna, the project is another phase in the walking mall's extension through campus.

"We are continuing the walking mall presence through campus that we currently have," he said. "This will be a connection with it, and have the same look that you see on campus."

The construction is concentrated on Neal Street between the Sam Rayburn Student Center (SRSC) and the Science Building, on Stonewall Street between the SRSC and the Ag-IT Building, as well as just east of the Ag-IT Building.

Some students like senior music education major Stacy Chadwell question the decision to begin construction during the middle of the spring semester.

"I don't understand why they're doing it now while students are busy rushing around campus," she said.

According to McKenna, construction was started in order to complete the project as soon as possible.

"Any time we do construction, it's an inconvenience across campus," he said. "What we were hoping to do is get it done, and then have it ready for the summer. A lot of times there's just not a good time to do construction because of the inconvenience. It's just a matter of getting it done, and getting it behind us so that it is done and presents a nice walking area for everybody."

The projected mid-to-late May completion date will be followed shortly thereafter by the beginning of another one.

"The next phase is scheduled for this summer, and will extend the mall around the new music building," McKenna said.

Sophomore Bentley Hickman thinks that while the walking mall itself is a good idea, construction is an inconvenient necessity.

"I like the idea of the walking mall," Hickman said. "It's a cool idea, but the main road that went through to the BA building was used a lot. Also, it is a big inconvenience having to walk all the way around the student center, Science Building, or Ag-IT Building just to get to the other side of campus."

Chadwell also thinks the construction is an inconvenience but said it will be an asset to the university.

"It makes the traffic by the New Pride and the Student Center a little dangerous," she said. "I think it will be wonderful when it's done, but as with any construction, it's kind of a pain right now. It might have been nice had they started in May, but I can understand the jumpstart."

Another ongoing construction project, the connection of campus's chilled water loop, which was begun last December, fell behind its initial mid-March completion date.

"It's taking much longer than we thought, but we got so much rain in that process that it's really slowed us down," McKenna said. "That's just another phase of construction, and why you kind of go ahead, because you never know what Mother Nature may have in store for you once you start."

According to McKenna, the delayed loop construction is not being conducted at any additional fees to the university, and is now expected to be completed by the end of May.

"We are not paying anything additional," he said. "It's a paid contract, so it's just up to them to get done and get out. We're working as quickly as we can, but these things take time. Hopefully, it will be ahead of schedule, but that remains to be seen."