Safety spurs one-way on Library Road

The section of Library Road behind Rush Rhees Library will become one way--with traffic moving toward Intercampus Drive--starting this summer.

The change is being made to reduce the risk of accidents at this heavy pedestrian crossing area, since buses and cars waiting behind the library often force all other traffic into the northern lane.

Construction is expected to begin July 27 and end by August 21.

Traffic will remain two-way on Library Road between Wilson Boulevard and the lower loading dock for Frederick Douglass Building. But the change means that traffic to the Zornow Center, Fauver Stadium, Susan B. Anthony Residence Hall, and the back of Rush Rhees Library will need to enter from the Wilson Boulevard end of Library Road. Access from Intercampus Drive will no longer be possible.

Traffic leaving the Susan B. Anthony Residence Hall drive will be routed left onto Library Road.

The traffic change will not affect freshmen moving into Susan B. Anthony Residence Hall since they already are routinely directed to drive in from the west end of Library Road, according to the residential life office.

As an additional measure to improve pedestrian safety, crosswalks will be added, and a fence installed between planters in the library parking lot will direct pedestrians to those crosswalks.

Signs related to the area will be updated; bus routes remain unaffected by the change.

Efforts will be made, in a variety of ways, to remind members of the University campus community about this traffic change. Those needing further information can contact Paul Tankel, planning and project management, x5-0936.