The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has seen many months of major construction throughout campus, and the fruits of that labor is starting to take shape.
Progress continues along Sun Bowl Drive, which is being widened into a four-lane road. Current work is focused on the school’s third roundabout, located at its intersection with Glory Road, just north of Sun Bowl Stadium.
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| Crews work on the Sun Bowl/Glory Road roundabout project at UTEP. (UTEP News) |
Although the intersection is closed, Sun Bowl Drive remains open to traffic. Officials expect that the intersection will be temporarily opened for the May 17 commencement ceremony that will take place at the Sun Bowl. Final completion is expected in the summer.
At the center of campus, utility work is nearing completion at portions of the Centennial Plaza construction site. For months, lots of earth has been moved to prepare for aboveground work, which is expected to begin on April 14. This includes concrete, brick paving, landscaping, and irrigation installation.
Centennial Plaza is the centerpiece of UTEP’s Centennial Celebration, a large gathering area bordered by the Union, Geological Sciences, Psychology, and Administration buildings. University construction will ultimately remove current streets, parking lots, and concrete areas to reveal a more natural, pedestrian-friendly environment.
The plaza, which will have the ability to host large crowds, is expected to be completed in time for Centennial activities in the fall.
And a new construction project to bring more student housing to campus is expected to break ground in mid-April. The University’s $23 million contract with Hunt Companies, Inc., should be executed soon and allow construction to begin.
The project will add two four-level residence halls and a common building at the northern edge of campus. It will create room for 352 students and be available for occupancy in fall of 2015.
More information can be found at the UTEP News website.