Charter Street to close

Just as West Johnson Street is reopened after nearly six months of reconstruction, the campus is about to experience more traffic changes due to a new construction project.

Charter Street between Linden Drive and University Avenue will be closed starting Monday, Nov. 24, so that new domestic water lines and electric and signal manholes can be installed. The work is part of a larger project to construct new electric and signal duct-bank packages along University Avenue, Charter Street and Linden Drive.

The closure will continue until the manhole work is completed, which should be in early to mid-March, depending on the weather, says Steve Harman of Facilities Planning and Management.

During work hours, which generally are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (but may vary from day to day), no motor vehicles, mopeds, motorcycles or bicycles will be allowed on that section of Charter Street. Flag persons will operate a gate through which buses, emergency vehicles, and delivery, maintenance and construction vehicles will be allowed to travel southbound.

Commuters wishing to drive south out of campus during work hours are advised to use Park Street or Henry Mall. When construction ends for the day, the gates will be opened to all southbound traffic.

All northbound Charter Street traffic will be detoured to Babcock Drive for the duration of the project. Bicyclists are asked to take the posted detour or walk their bikes on the sidewalks provided. At times, pedestrians will be redirected around the construction area.

Harman notes that Charter Street will be closed again when duct-bank work resumes in the summer.