On March 1, or as soon after as weather allows, the main Kulanui Street entrance into the BYU-Hawaii campus will close for approximately three-to-four weeks to allow construction on a traffic roundabout in front of the "little circle."
Billy Casey, BYU-Hawaii assistant director of physical facilities, explained that the construction work is all part of BYU-Hawaii's new front entrance project that "will integrate with the new look that's being developed on Hale Laa Blvd. We're using similar materials and design elements that will tie the looks of the campus into the community."
The portion of the "big circle" road from the Administration Building parking lot to the Temple View apartments access road will also be closed temporarily during the project.
Casey explained, the University has worked with RCI Construction Group to create a temporary one-way-only entrance off Naniloa Loop on the side of the School of Education building that will intersect the TVA road. "This entrance will be open 24 hours a day, with security providing normal evening coverage," Casey said.
He explained all vehicles entering on the temporary road will have to drive around the big circle and turn right by the Administration Building, then left on the back road to exit the campus through the gate nearest the Polynesian Cultural Center's Marquesan village. Some people call this the "'Shumway gate' because it's close to a home President Shumway owns on Naniloa Loop."
"The Shumway gate will be the only campus exit for regular traffic, and it also will be open 24 hours a day, with night security," Casey said. "It can also be used as an entrance to the PCC side of campus -- the Administration Building, parking lot, Cannon Activities Center, physical plant buildings -- but you won't be able to get onto the big circle from there."
Casey stressed there's no reason for nonresidents to drive around TVA to get onto the campus. "We really don't want to increase the traffic through TVA, so we've created the temporary entrance."
He pointed out that the parking stalls on the big circle between the entrance to the little circle and the TVA access road, will remain open. But Casey encourages people trying to use those parking spots to "be patient and drive carefully because there will be temporary contra-flow traffic in that area during construction."
Casey reiterated that the traffic roundabout project is "expected to be done by the end of March, if not sooner, pending weather." At that time the main entrance will be re-opened. Parking in the little circle will also resume when the project is completed.
"Contractually it needs to be done by the end of June, but the contractor is actually shooting for the end of April," Casey said. However, he pointed out, recent bad weather and the concrete strike may impact schedules.
"We're thankful for everybody's patience as we try to work through these improvements to campus."