Ramshead Work Brings Noise, Less Parking

The project -- located in front of Carmichael Residence Hall -- aims to install utility pipes for steam and is a part of the Ramshead project.

University officials said the construction on Stadium Drive will not be complete until January 2003.

The Ramshead parking deck, which is scheduled to be completed in 2005, will be a three-level parking complex with 700 parking spaces and proposed shopping areas and recreation facilities.

The construction, which now occupies the traffic lane closest to Carmichael on Stadium Drive, will shift to the center of the street by late October and to the opposite lane beginning in late November.

In addition to causing pedestrian and traffic problems, the project has eliminated about 20 student parking spaces.

Jerry Riggan, superintendent of Midatlantic Construction, one of the companies working on the project, said students with Stadium Drive parking passes were notified two weeks in advance of the construction.

Officials said there are no surplus parking spaces to accommodate them during this construction period.

Many of the students said Tuesday -- over the roar of heavy machinery -- that they are bothered by the construction.

Freshman Ada Wilson, who lives in Hinton James Residence Hall, said the noise is the worst part of the construction.

"(The construction) is really annoying," she said. "When you walk it's really loud. My friend, who lives in Morrison (Residence Hall), says she can hear it all the way over there."

Allison Meyer, who lives in Avery Residence Hall and received an e-mail about the construction, said she also is bothered by the noise.

"It'd be nicer if they could have the done the construction in the summer when not as many people were around," she said. "It's really loud."

Jon Watson of Rifenberg Construction, the other company working on the project, said he is concerned about pedestrians. He said speeding cars might be dangerous to pedestrians whose sidewalk space has been diminished. The crew is monitoring the situation, but if it gets worse they might alert the Department of Public Safety.

"Hopefully this phase of construction will be the most disruptive on Stadium Drive," said Tim Saunders, transportation planner for the DPS.

Saunders said he does not anticipate further inconveniences, but he said completion dates are tentative, delays are possible and there soon will be similar construction on Ridge Road.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.