Students may have left campus for the summer, but the construction work still continues.
Construction across the university will bring students new sights and free up mobility for the fall semester that was previously obstructed.
Construction projects on campus continue over summer
Construction for the new bridge on Farm Lane begins on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
Projects like the Farm Lane Bridge reconstruction began in December of 2023 and are reaching completion on campus over the summer.
Reconstruction on the Farm Lane Bridge, which has interrupted student mobility during its period of construction, will be concluded in June.
According to John LeFevre, director of planning, design and construction at the IPF, the bridge is scheduled to be open for public use on Monday, July 8. The current road closure of Farm Lane between Auditorium Road and North Shaw Lane will be reopened, with detours no longer being necessary.
“I know, for students, it seems a big inconvenience, but this replacement is needed,” Erica Venton, communications officer for IPF administration, said.
This reconstruction should be the last of its kind for years to come, with its initial completion being the permanent condition of the bridge, according to LeFevre.
“It’s been a long time coming,” LeFevre said. “Having its replacement to a modern standard which will last for generations is a huge value for our campus.”
The Multicultural Center, a project not far from the Farm Lane Bridge, will also look different for students when they return in the fall.
The center is expected to be completed by November 2024, according to the Infrastructure Planning Facilities current projects webpage.
As of May 29, the center is 65% complete with the interior now being worked on, Venton said.
LeFevre said construction for the Center will be limited to the site itself, in the fall.
“A lot of the walkway obstruction right now is more associated with the Farm Lane Bridge project than it is with the Multicultural Center,” said LeFevre.
Other walkways surrounding the center like River Trail and the paths on Shaw Lane will also remain open at all times in the fall, LeFevre said.
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The center itself will be substantially complete in December, with staff moving into the space, and be accessible to students when they return for the spring semester in January, according to Venton.
Another project which is scheduled to be completed in February 2026 is the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. This project is only 15% complete, according to Venton.
This number will not affect student mobility on campus, LeFevre said. Once the fall semester begins, all work will be confined within the site. All roads and sidewalks surrounding will be completely open.
Even though this facility is still two years away from completion, Ean Montague, communications manager for MSU Auxiliary Sports Group at Student Life and Engagement, says students should be excited for the recreation center.
“We’ve known that our recreation facilities on campus needed to be updated to better meet the needs of our students,” Montague said. “This new facility is not only going to rectify that, but it's also going to bring a lot of new exciting opportunities with it.”
Of these opportunities, Montague said the facility will have roughly triple the dedicated strength and cardio fitness space than IM West, as well as brand-new amenities like sport simulators and an outdoor adventure center.
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Other construction projects continue over the summer as well.
The IPF has a portion of Shaw Lane currently closed for additional construction.
“Right now we have Shaw Lane closed from Harrison to Chestnut for road improvements and water main construction,” LeFevre said.
Other projects include reconstruction of the MSU Museum and renovations at Campbell Hall, neither of which will obstruct mobility on campus.
