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Major excavation of UA Mall gets underway tonight

The Integrated Learning Center construction project will enter its first major phase later tonight with the major excavation of the UA Mall.

For the next few weeks, construction efforts will be primarily focused on removing the dirt from the 85,944 square-foot area, University of Arizona spokeswoman Sharon Kha said.

"They began excavating last week, but there were other things they had to take care of first," Kha said. "I'm very happy that they are starting now, because it means that they will finish quicker."

To minimize interruptions for students and faculty, construction workers will excavate the Mall from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday night. Work will be done on weekends only if the project falls behind schedule.

The large bulldozers and dump trucks needed for the project will be kept in the new parking lot on the east side of the Mall.

The fences surrounding the ILC site have been covered with a strong plastic film. This, according to Kha, will help keep the blowing dust to a minimum.

The next phase of the ILC construction will be the shoring operation which will stabilize the walls during construction. The ILC is scheduled to be completed in January of 2001.

In other construction news, workers have completed the access road to the Memorial Student Union.

The newly paved route lies between the union parking lot and the Engineering building. Access to the road is off of East Second Street, next to the Harshbarger Building.

Vehicles will no longer be able to enter the union area from North Mountain Avenue.

"This will allow delivery and construction vehicles to service the union while it is under construction," said Gilbert Davidson, assistant project manager for student union construction.

Crews will begin the demolition of the union in early October, Davidson said.