Argus Reporter
Winston-Salem State University is receiving a major face-lift. Construction sites are visible throughout campus. One area of concern for students is the pedestrian-walk building site. Barriers cause students and faculty to take alternate routes to reach particular buildings. In most cases this means a longer walk and a few extra minutes. Questions are being raised as to when construction on the pedestrian walk will be completed.The pedestrian walk is part of a $46 million project called the Capital Construction Plan.The plan calls for improvement and/or renovations to existing sites such as the Health Science building. The project also includes the construction of new buildings. The Computer Science building is one of them. More renovations and new buildings are scheduled.Students and faculty are eagerly awaiting the completion of Phase 1 to the clock tower/pedestrian walk. Phase 1 began in front of the Thompson Center. It continues down to the construction of the tower and down to the front of the library. Completion on the site was scheduled for December. As we all know we’ve fallen short of that goal.Jorge Quintal, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor/Facilities, did offer an explanation as to why the project has not been completed. “Because of the weather and major utilities problems, development of the site had to be delayed. These were things that we had not foreseen or could have predicted,” Quintal said.He said that he anticipates phase 1 to be finished by the end of March and he hopes to have phase 2 completed in July. “Phase 2 of the pedestrian walk continues from the library to MLK.” Quintal added that there are still a variety of projects to be completed. “This summer construction of a Student Health Services building and renovation will begin.”With spring fast approaching many students are looking forward to spending afternoons on the yard. The faster the walk way is completed the more time students will have to enjoy it. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and there will be no more major problems.May the spring usher in the completion of the walkway and a renewed spirit of Ram Pride.