University of Minnesota students say construction around campus has greatly affected summer commutes.
Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Transportation are undertaking construction efforts that include road areas of the University of Minnesota campus, according to Parking and Transportation Services.
Many students feel the significant construction should not limit their ability to navigate campus and greater Minneapolis. Second-year Eyob Tekele said he understands why so many construction projects are happening on campus but believes they shouldn’t block essential navigation routes.
“I understand the fact that they would have to do it,” Eyob Tekele said. “But I think it’s just mainly because it kind of felt like they start everywhere all at once, all that rather than progressing into doing section by section.”
He said students should be aware of possible delays.
“If there isn’t an actual plan for people to see, be like — okay, these are the deadlines that they’re supposed to meet,” Eyob Tekele said. “So we can keep them accountable if they don’t meet those deadlines.”
There are currently three projects going on at the University campus, such as improvements to high-traffic Fourth Street and University Avenue set to end in August, according to University Parking and Transportation Services.
Incoming first-year Sabrin Muqtar said the construction has already begun to limit her navigation abilities before she has officially started.
“It’s so irritating having to figure out how to get dropped off or picked up,” Muqtar said.
Muqtar said the construction has even affected her use of public transportation on campus, as many buses were rerouted.
“Having to figure out what buses to take because a lot of the buses are rerouted and have to go around through the track construction,” Muqtar said. ”Figuring out where the new buses are taking new stops and where they’re going around on campus was a little bit harder.”
Metro Transit said they are doing projects with Hennepin County, MnDOT and the city of Minneapolis, which includes construction around bus stops at the University of Minnesota campus.
Abreham Tekele, Eyob’s younger brother, is also an incoming freshman. Abreham said he has difficulty navigating at night as he feels signage and markings can be unclear in places.
“It’s confusing when it’s nighttime,” Abreham Tekele said. “The lights are not on, you don’t know where you’re going.”
Abreham said the construction has affected commuters to the point where getting around campus can be a major struggle.
“I think to make it better, I don’t think they should have closed every single d*** road,” Tekele said. “They can do a section at a time instead of the whole block at once.”
Metro Transit recommends commuters subscribe to Metro Transit and MnDOT’s newsletters, which clarify construction projects, timelines and updates.