It’s the month of May at UConn, and you don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict what’s ahead: a major acceleration of construction on the Storrs campus, accompanied by the need to close some roads and detour traffic in several spots.

The end of spring semester brings a significant drop in the campus population, making it traditionally the best time to launch or expand work on large construction projects that may require traffic pattern changes.

Summer construction has been more pronounced in recent years at Storrs, as the University has worked on a multi-year project to upgrade UConn’s aging underground infrastructure by replacing underground utility lines.

Additional excavation is also under way to extend utilities to buildings under construction (notably the new Student Recreation Center) and to sites where others are planned in coming years (including the Northwest Science Quad and its new science building).

The University started this monthly series earlier this year to update students, faculty, and staff about the status of significant projects, and to help them anticipate changes in traffic and pedestrian patterns.

The University’s Office of Planning, Design, and Construction also posts many resources on its website to explain significant construction activity by semester, along with project updates and detailed quarterly construction status reports.

In addition, the office keeps a running blog on its website with project updates, specifics about traffic impacts from construction, and other news.

Hillside Road

Perhaps the most notable impact this summer will be the need to close Hillside Road between Glenbrook and Gilbert roads starting May 8, shortly after Commencement ceremonies are complete.

The closure is necessary as crews do utility work on Hillside at and near the Jim Calhoun Way intersection, where they are extending electric, water, and other infrastructure to the Student Recreation Center, which is currently under construction.

The closure will temporarily eliminate the most commonly used north-south route through campus, so people will need to circle around either on Route 195 or Alumni Drive, depending on their destination.

Construction vehicles remain under special instructions to avoid all residential areas around campus, and to enter on Bolton Road via Route 195 and Discovery Drive via Route 44.

The UConn Bookstore will remain open for its regular operations and special summer events it hosts, including those during orientation sessions. Its customers will be encouraged to park in South Garage and enter the store on its second floor.

The North and South parking garages will remain open and accessible throughout the summer, and restricted vehicular access will be permitted in special circumstances to McMahon Residence Hall, Greer Field House, and the Student Union.

Otherwise, however, all traffic that normally would use that portion of Hillside Road will be detoured away from the site until it reopens in mid- to late August. Jim Calhoun Way will also have no access to Hillside Road, and clearly marked detours will be in place.

In a project that is nearby but not related, crews will also be building a parking lot in the area behind the Greer Field House, adjacent to the Sherman Family Sports Complex and its track, field, and other outdoor amenities. It is expected to be open for parking by the fall semester.

North Eagleville Road

This major east-west road continues to be ground zero for the University’s underground infrastructure replacement project. After Commencement, the road will be open only to one-way, eastbound local traffic between Discovery Drive and Glenbrook Road until mid-August.

The portion between Glenbrook and Route 195 will be open to two-way traffic in May and throughout the summer, but vehicles entering campus there will need to turn left on Glenbrook rather than proceeding on North Eagleville.

The infrastucture replacement project was complicated last summer by the discovery of significantly more underground bedrock than anticipated, pushing the North Eagleville roadwork into this summer.

Crews got a jump start in recent weeks to dig in some areas on days when the weather cooperated, and if all stays on schedule, the final work to pave and seal the road should occur this fall.

Also of note:

• Auditorium Road and Extension remain closed to vehicle traffic, with exceptions only for construction, service, and emergency vehicles.
• Parts of Mansfield Road and Alumni Drive will be paved at times to be determined, possibly starting as early as May. Some short-term detours should be expected during the work, which will take seven to 10 days once it begins. Drivers should consider using Bolton Road instead of Mansfield Road when possible during those times.
• Coventry Road is closed to traffic at Maple Lane near the Louis J. von der Mehden Recital Hall, with access allowed only for construction, service, and emergency vehicles.
• Jorgensen Road and Whitney Road are open to local traffic only. On Jorgensen Road, an accessible drop-off area is available for events at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre in the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. At Whitney Road, on-street parking reductions near the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center continue.