Q. How do I navigate on campus and in the area surrounding campus?
A. While College Avenue north of 4th Street is an active construction zone, crews have set up clean, lighted crosswalks through areas of construction. For your safety, please use the designated crosswalk areas to cross College Avenue in front of Kellogg Hall and in front of the Administration Building. Both crosswalks are ADA compliant.
When possible, please use the north and south walkways on campus and avoid the walkways on front campus where work is in progress.
Traffic alert! Expect periodic road closures at locations along College Avenue south of 4th Street, in particular at the intersection of 4th Street and College Avenue. Follow detour routes as designated by construction crews. Plan ahead for slower commutes and watch carefully for heavy pedestrian traffic through campus as students return to campus this week.
Q. What is happening to College Avenue and to the front campus of WWU? When will the project be complete?
A. College Avenue is being reconstructed as part of the College Avenue/Rose Street (CARS) construction project. In total the project will reconstruct 11,300 feet of roadway on Rose Street and on College Avenue south to Mojonnier Road/Lamperti Street.
The project will include the addition of 2,750 feet of multiuse pathways and parking on the south side of Rose Street, as well as 14,200 feet of 10-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides of College Avenue. Walkways will be constructed to ADA standards.
This enhanced College Avenue corridor and improvements to the front campus of WWU will include improved street crossings, more lighting, the addition of trees and other landscaping features, improved utility services, and a new plaza between Meske Hall and Village Hall.
Weather permitting, the estimated completion date for the section of College Avenue in front of WWU is November 30. If the weather does not allow for final paving this fall, a driveable layer will be in place on the road until final paving can occur in the spring of 2016.
Q. What is the best way to get to campus from Highway 12 eastbound from Wallula Junction or westbound from Waitsburg?
A. From Highway 12, take the exit for Myra Road/College Place/Prescott/Pendleton. Go through both traffic circles and head south on Myra Road over the Mill Creek bridge. Continue straight through the Rose Street intersection and the Poplar Street intersection. Turn right at Whitman Drive. Continue straight on Whitman Drive across Larch Street to Ash Avenue. From the intersection of Whitman Drive and Ash Avenue:
• For Foreman Hall, Conard Hall, and Meske Hall, turn left on Ash Avenue and continue about one block to the top of the hill.
• For Sittner Hall, turn left on Ash Avenue, continue to 4th Street and turn right. Cross College Avenue and turn right on Bade Street. Sittner Hall is straight ahead beyond the University Church.
• For the two-story Hallmark Apartments, turn right on Ash Avenue, continue to C Street and turn left, turn left again almost immediately into the back parking lot of the one-story Hallmark Apartments where, on the right, there is a narrow driveway into the parking lot of the two-story Hallmark Apartments.
Q. What is the best way to get to campus from Highway 125 coming from Milton-Freewater?
A. From Highway 125, turn left on Meadowbrook Boulevard just past WalMart. Turn right on Lamperti Street, then turn left on Larch Avenue. Continue on Larch Avenue across 12th Street to 4th Street. Turn left on 4th Street. From 4th Street:
• For Foreman Hall, Conard Hall, and Meske Hall, turn right on Ash Avenue and continue about two blocks to the top of the hill.
• For Sittner Hall, continue on 4th Street across College Avenue. Turn right on Bade Street. Sittner Hall is straight ahead beyond the University Church.
• For the two-story Hallmark Apartments, turn right on Ash Avenue, continue to C Street and turn left, turn left again almost immediately into the back parking lot of the one-story Hallmark Apartments where, on the right, there is a narrow driveway into the parking lot of the two-story Hallmark Apartments.
Q. With College Avenue closed, how do I walk from Hallmark Apartments to campus?
A. With College Avenue closed, access the WWU campus from Hallmark Apartments by using Ash Street. Barricades designating areas for pedestrian traffic will be set up on the west side of Ash Avenue from A Street to Whitman Drive where there are no sidewalks. Sidewalks are then available on both sides of Ash Avenue south of Whitman Drive behind Kellogg Hall, Conard Hall, and Foreman Hall.
Q. Is local traffic allowed on the road into Hallmark Apartments? Can I drive on College Avenue at all?
A. No, College Avenue is closed to all traffic. Access Hallmark Apartments from C Street as described above.
Q. How do I access the bookstore?
A. The best way to access the bookstore is from 3rd Street, which borders the store to the south. Access 3rd Street from Ash Avenue behind the store rather than from College Avenue.
Q. Are bicycles allowed on the gravel and dirt in construction areas?
A. Construction areas are closed to all traffic, including bicycles. College Avenue crosswalks are for foot traffic only.
Q. Where can I park?
A. All parking lots are open, however, please be aware that all entrances and exits may not be available for use.
Q. Who should I call if I have trouble crossing roads or if I need assistance?
A. Please call Campus Security at (509) 527-2222.
Q. Why is there no green lawn on front campus?
A. Following the placement of new walkways on campus and other landscaping projects, crews are currently working to upgrade water lines and sprinkler systems. Please stay on paved walkways and avoid sprinkler system trenches.
Q. Are businesses open along College Avenue?
A. All businesses on College Avenue are open during construction and can be accessed from Ash Street or other alternate routes.
Posted September 16, 2015
