Spring Break
Officials discuss N. Hillside extension
Meghan Kruger
Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: News
A public hearing at the Merlin D. Bishop Center on Jan. 29 discussed plans for extending North Hillside Road in order to facilitate development of the North Campus as well as provide an alternate entrance to campus. The Federal Highway Administration, Connecticut Department of Transportation and UConn are in the final stages of this project and are seeking final approval of construction plans in the spring.
The road, which will be extended approximately 3,400 feet to Route 44, will create a new intersection to alleviate traffic from existing roads and intersections as well as provide direct access to Charter Oak Apartments and Charter Oak Suites.
"I think this is a great idea. It will save me a lot of time to not have to drive through campus," said Brian Sullivan, an 8th-semester accounting major and resident of Charter Oak Apartments. Relieving traffic and increasing safety are both short term goals of extending North Hillside Road.
According to Rich Miller, director of the Office of Environmental Policy at UConn, one of the biggest concerns during the development of this project was its impact on the environment. "It is important to UConn and the town of Mansfield that we minimize the environmental impact and make the best use out of the property," he said.
The plan, which was first proposed back in the late 1980s, was redesigned several times to avoid damaging wetlands, farmlands, and other natural habitats. Other obstacles included time and funding. "The proposal for this project took a long time, and we needed around $6 million in federal funding," Miller said. "We were starting to become skeptical and began wondering if this would ever happen."
Miller called this project a "huge opportunity for the university" and looks forward to passing through the final stages of development.
The current plan also includes the development of a "Research Park" which, according to a press release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will include the "development of a university science and technology campus."
Eric Boss, project manager with the group Fuss & O'Neill, said, "The Research Park is one of the long term goals of this project. It will really benefit students, faculty and staff."
Alternative locations for the Research Park, including Depot Campus, were considered and ultimately rejected as they were deemed "environmentally unacceptable." In addition, no other site was available that would provide a direct route to the campus and allow direct access to residential areas.
Construction on the road, which is set to cost between $10 and $15 million, funded by both the Highway Department and university funds, should begin in the spring of 2011 and should be completed by the fall of 2012.
"It is really great to see this finally happening," Boss said.
The road, which will be extended approximately 3,400 feet to Route 44, will create a new intersection to alleviate traffic from existing roads and intersections as well as provide direct access to Charter Oak Apartments and Charter Oak Suites.
"I think this is a great idea. It will save me a lot of time to not have to drive through campus," said Brian Sullivan, an 8th-semester accounting major and resident of Charter Oak Apartments. Relieving traffic and increasing safety are both short term goals of extending North Hillside Road.
According to Rich Miller, director of the Office of Environmental Policy at UConn, one of the biggest concerns during the development of this project was its impact on the environment. "It is important to UConn and the town of Mansfield that we minimize the environmental impact and make the best use out of the property," he said.
The plan, which was first proposed back in the late 1980s, was redesigned several times to avoid damaging wetlands, farmlands, and other natural habitats. Other obstacles included time and funding. "The proposal for this project took a long time, and we needed around $6 million in federal funding," Miller said. "We were starting to become skeptical and began wondering if this would ever happen."
Miller called this project a "huge opportunity for the university" and looks forward to passing through the final stages of development.
The current plan also includes the development of a "Research Park" which, according to a press release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will include the "development of a university science and technology campus."
Eric Boss, project manager with the group Fuss & O'Neill, said, "The Research Park is one of the long term goals of this project. It will really benefit students, faculty and staff."
Alternative locations for the Research Park, including Depot Campus, were considered and ultimately rejected as they were deemed "environmentally unacceptable." In addition, no other site was available that would provide a direct route to the campus and allow direct access to residential areas.
Construction on the road, which is set to cost between $10 and $15 million, funded by both the Highway Department and university funds, should begin in the spring of 2011 and should be completed by the fall of 2012.
"It is really great to see this finally happening," Boss said.
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