In Summer 2023, Campus Operations began a series of campus-wide construction projects that are expected to continue through April 2024. These projects include major road work, facility upgrades, and replacing water and sewer lines that are over 50 years old. This work will make traffic and pedestrian travel around campus challenging at times. Your patience is greatly appreciated during this period, and we hope you will join us in celebrating these accomplishments once they are completed.
Construction Projects
The map below outlines the entirety of 2023 construction projects, either currently in progress or those that have yet to be completed.
Bus and Shuttle Routes
updated 8/15/23
Asheville City Bus and University Shuttle routes will be impacted by these projects. There will still be two city bus stops, but their locations may change as the project progresses. Currently, they are by the silver Bulldog on University Heights near the Justice Center and at the WT Weaver Blvd. stop across from the Health and Counseling Center. Electric vehicle charging can be accessed in the Zageir Hall Parking Deck and in parking lot P10.
Click map images to view larger
There is large tree that has suffered severe damage at the base of its trunk and is in danger of falling. In order to safely remove the tree, it will be necessary to close a section of the University Heights loop road near Owen Hall, as well as several parking spaces in the same area, on Saturday, April 13 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The intent is to close the road for one day, but the tree work and associated cleanup may take several days to complete. Be prepared for the closure to take place again on Sunday, April 14 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The specific area to be closed is the loop road between Theatre Lane, at Owen Hall, and Parking Lot P12, across from Zageir Hall. The closed parking spaces will all be within the confines of the road closure. Campus Operations has already begun closing parking spaces immediately adjacent to the tree and will continue to close several others throughout the day as they are vacated.
Please see the map below for specifics of the road closure.
Campus Operations has two projects beginning this week to repair the roofs at Belk Theatre and Weizenblatt Hall. Each site will have a construction fence around the perimeter and dumpsters behind the building. The attached maps show sidewalks and parking that will be restricted during construction.
The Belk Theatre roof is expected to be completed mid-May, and the Weizenblatt Hall roof completed late April.
Please contact Campus Operations at 828-251-6564 if you have any questions or concerns.
Click images to view larger
Beginning at 6 a.m., Tuesday, January 9, Campus Operations will implement the Phase 3 Traffic Pattern changes shown on the attached maps. This next phase of the road construction will close the W.T. Weaver entrance to the main campus at the traffic circle for all types of traffic, including pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicles both entering and exiting the campus.
To exit campus via vehicular traffic, it will be necessary to utilize either Campus Drive or Edgewood Road. Both the Greenway and Founders Drive will remain open and can be utilized as a detour for both bicycles and pedestrians entering and exiting the campus. The main campus loop via University Heights will still circulate, but the traffic pattern past Zeis will change. You will only be able to exit campus via Campus Drive or Edgewood Road. The P28 Parking Lot will remain open for parking only and will no longer serve as a detour.
Asheville City Bus and UNC Asheville Shuttle Bus routes will also be affected. More information including maps showing revised bus routes will be provided early next week.
Please exercise additional caution with the new traffic patterns, especially when traversing through the traffic circle on W.T. Weaver. Please also remember to follow the speed limits in and around campus, especially if you are entering or exiting campus via Edgewood Road.
This work is expected to be completed in early May, but completion is weather dependent.
01/08 Update:
The implementation of the Phase 3 traffic pattern change will begin at 6 a.m. on Thursday, January 11.
The fence-lined crosswalk that extends from P28 to central campus will be closed on Wednesday, November 29 and Thursday, November 30. The roadway contractor will be removing asphalt and sidewalk in order to install a new stormwater pipeline. The contractor estimates this work will take 1-2 days to complete. As a reminder, there is another crosswalk at the intersection of University Heights and Edgewood Road that will remain open.
The Botanical Gardens will be installing a new pedestrian bridge on their property, which will impact parking and vehicular access on Founders Drive. Please note the following:
- University Police will block parking spaces near Aspen Hall: Tuesday evening, November 21, beginning 5 p.m.
- Founders Drive will be closed: Wednesday, November 22, 8-11 a.m.
The Temporary Phase 1 Traffic Pattern is now in place. This phase involves repaving the main entrance road from the traffic circle on W.T. Weaver Boulevard up to the intersection of University Heights and Edgewood Road near Owen Hall. View the map below for more details. Please drive carefully around the construction area and pay attention to the new traffic patterns.
The track will be closed on Friday, November 17 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
There will be a one lane closure on University Heights today, between the traffic circle and Owen Hall. Flaggers will be present and may route vehicles through the P28 parking lot. Traffic may experience brief delays in this area.
The University Heights campus loop road will be reopened at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, Tuesday, November 14. Traffic patterns will all return to their pre-construction state. During the week of November 20, we will implement the Phase 1 Traffic pattern change (see 10/31 update).
Campus Operations is nearing completion of the current road work in the central part of campus. This portion of the newly paved road is expected to reopen in the next few weeks. The road construction contractor is ready to move into the next phases of road construction. This will involve repaving the main entrance road from the traffic circle on W.T. Weaver Boulevard up to the intersection of University Heights and Edgewood Road near Owen Hall. View the maps below for more details.
This phase of the roadway project will include replacement of the base and sub-base as needed, along with asphalt paving. In addition, the existing sidewalk will be replaced with a six-foot walkway, and a new concrete stairway will replace the timber steps to provide safe access to the central campus. Additional pedestrian safety issues will be addressed with two raised crosswalks, which will make pedestrians more visible and will assist in slowing down vehicle speeds. The work will also include the replacement of the stormwater system, including failing metal pipes and inadequate collection structures. The addition of curb and gutter will aid in the collection of stormwater and also lessen the potential for erosion. An increased amount of stormwater will flow into the constructed wetland located adjacent to Glenns Creek.
In order to improve the infrastructure, grading, and drainage work in this area, the 39 non-native spruce trees along the entrance road will need to be removed. Campus Operations plans to replace the non-native Norwegian spruce trees with white oak trees, which naturally occur on campus. Additionally, the Grounds Department has allowed naturally occurring oak species to grow up behind the Norway spruce to increase biodiversity along the historical main entrance to our campus. The east side of University Heights will also be improved, meaning 15 aging white pine trees, growing very close to the road, will be removed. These trees will be replaced with other native trees and shrubs that will enhance the main campus entrance. The overall intent is to plant more trees than are removed by the construction and to do so with native species.
Campus Operations realizes this additional road work will be very disruptive to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The work will begin in mid-November and likely continue through April. In an effort to minimize the impact to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, this work will be completed in several phases. Detailed maps showing the temporary traffic patterns and road closures, as well as the impact to pedestrians, are attached. In short, the traffic disruptions will look as follows:
- Phase 1 – November 13, 2023 – January 5, 2024 – The portion of University Heights from the intersection near Zeis to Owen Hall will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The P28 Parking Lot will be used as a temporary detour during this closure. (See attached Phase 1 drawing/map.)
- Phase 2 – December 18, 2023 – January 5, 2024 – In addition to the above closure, the Intersection at University Heights and Edgewood Road will also be closed. A temporary cul-de-sac will be created at Owen Hall to allow traffic to turn around on campus and Edgewood Road traffic will continue to temporarily detour through Parking Lot P28. This means there will be no campus entrance via the traffic circle on W.T. Weaver or via Edgewood Road. (See attached Phase 2 drawing/map.)
- Phase 3 – January 5, 2024 – April 30, 2024 – The University Heights entrance road from the W.T. Weaver traffic Circle to the intersection near Zeis Hall will be closed. The detour through Parking Lot P28 will also be closed during this period of time. More information on this closure will follow at a later date.
Please note both the Asheville City Bus and the Campus Shuttle Bus routes will be affected by this construction. The plan is to minimize the impact to the bus routes servicing our campus and maintain as many of the current bus stops as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact Campus Operations at campus_operations@unca.edu.
The track will be closed Sunday, October 22 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The roadway project is progressing north along University Heights into an area that will encompass the Zeis crosswalk. Please use the accessible crosswalk between P25 and Zeis.
The sidewalk bordering Rhoades Tower along University Heights will be closed for approximately 10 days starting on Friday Sept 29. The sidewalk closure is necessary for the waterline tie-in. An alternate route around the sidewalk closure is shown below.
Please contact Campus Operations if you have any questions.
On Saturday, September 30, Campus Operations will have a planned water outage as part of the roadway project. Work will begin at 8 a.m. and will likely be restored by 3 p.m.
A newly installed water line must be tied into the existing system in Robinson Hall, Rhoades Hall, and Rhoades Tower.
Interruption of water service is not expected outside of the locations listed above. If you do experience an interruption of water service, loss of water pressure, or discolored water, please notify University Police at 828-232-5000. They will contact onsite Campus Operations personnel.
If you have any questions of concerns, please contact Campus Operations.
The track will be closed Tuesday, September 19 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The track will be closed Thursday, September 14 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The track will be closed Tuesday, September 12 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Parking lot P5 is now open. Additionally, the track will open today, Friday, September 8 at 5 p.m. It will be closed Monday, September 11 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Parking lot P5 will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, September 5, through 5 p.m. Friday, September 8 to allow the contractor to safely move materials to the track infield.
- The track will be closed Wednesday, September 6 through Friday, September 8 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please relay any questions or concerns you have have to campus_operations@unca.edu.
The raised crosswalk from Highsmith Student Union toward Phillips Hall will be closed today, Thursday, August 31, for work related to the roadway project. It will be reopened as soon as possible. The raised crosswalk from Brown Hall toward Rhoades-Robinson Hall is still closed as well.
A small section of sidewalk on the Quad near Phillips Hall will be closed on August 23. An outside contractor will be pouring concrete in the area, as well as within the construction fence near Delany Hall.
The Karl Straus Track will open today, Wednesday, August 23 at 5:00 p.m. and will remain open until Monday, August 28 at 9:00 a.m. It will be closed beginning Monday, August 28 at 9:00 a.m. until Tuesday, August 29 at 3:00 p.m.
Due to unforeseen construction hazards on the track surface, it will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday, August 23. Additionally, the use of the track prior to 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. will not be permitted until further notice.
The track will now be closed both on Monday, August 21 and on Tuesday, August 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.It will be open outside these hours and during the weekend. Please note that the gates will be locked during construction hours.
Electricians have not yet completed electrical work on the track, which will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Please note that you must have your Rocky Card or a wrist band to use the facility.
Additionally, there are coyote decoys on the grass infield to deter wild geese from the new sod.
Electrical work at the Justice Center Athletic Pool is starting today and is expected to be completed by September 4. The contractor’s shifts are scheduled for Monday through Thursday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The map below details the construction zone and the areas to avoid, except for emergency needs.
The Brown Hall crosswalk will be closed today, Tuesday, August 15 for work related to the roadway project. It will be reopened as soon as possible.
As the University continues to improve the quality of campus water systems, section of sidewalk on campus will be closed during the week of August 14 for concrete repair, barring rain or other inclement weather.
- Between Karpen Hall and Rhoades Robinson, including the sidewalk from Phillips Hall / Curry Courtyard onto the Quad
- Delany Hall entrance near Mullen James Humanities Lecture Hall
There will be a short-term, temporary closure of the track on from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. starting Wednesday, August 16 through Friday, August 18. The track will be open both outside these hours and throughout the weekend. Please note that the gates will be locked during the specified hours.
Throughout all of next week, August 14-18, contractors will be pouring concrete within the construction zone near Delany Hall. As a result, there will be intermittent road closures and slow traffic on University Heights near Zeis Hall and parking lots P25 and P26.
Concrete truck deliveries will occur on Wednesday, August 9 for the Quad and again on Thursday, August 10 for Tennent Park. There will be intermittent road closures and slow traffic on University Heights near Zeis Hall during this time.
As part of the project to upgrade and repair water and sewer lines, sections of sidewalk both on the Quad and near Mullen James Humanities Lecture Hall will be closed during the week of August 7 for concrete repair. See below to view specific locations.
Plans regarding the closure of the track facility have changed. The track will now be fully open for the entire week of August 7.
A section of the sidewalk on the Quad spanning from Karpen Hall to Rhoades/Robinson Hall will be closed on Wednesday, August 2 from 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. for a domestic water tie-in. See the specific area below.
Portions of the track facility are still an active construction site. Additionally, as several electrical items on and around the track require maintenance, temporary, short-term closures of the track will be required throughout this process. Some closures may be all day, while others may only last 3-4 hours. You will be notified of these closures in as much advance as possible, but some closures may have little to no prior notice in order to complete this project in a timely manner.
The track facility will be closed from Wednesday, August 2 through Friday, August 4, as well as August 7 through August 11. This closure will result in all-day outages during these days. Gates will be locked at 8 a.m. and will reopen at 5 p.m. Use of the track outside this time frame will be permitted. The track will also be open during the weekend.
This project will close University Heights from the elevated crosswalk at Governors Hall to the Zeis Hall Crosswalk. Construction will affect traffic patterns, parking, bus and shuttle routes, pedestrian travel, and access to electric vehicle charging stations. Admission and ADA (Accessible) parking will be relocated to Parking Lot P25. The project will also create a new 2-way traffic pattern from University Heights; please see the map for details. Lots P1 and P34 are All Permit lots and will continue to have parking readily available.
Pedestrian access will be available via the elevated crosswalk in front of Governors Hall and the Zeis crosswalk. The Highsmith and Brown hall elevated crosswalks will be closed as well, but may open back up if logistics and safety allow.
Asheville City Bus and University Shuttle routes will also be impacted. There will still be 2 city bus stops, but their locations may change as the project progresses.
Electric vehicle charging can be accessed in the Zageir Hall Parking Deck and in Parking lot P10.
Phase 1 of this work began in early July and is expected to continue through the end of October. Phase 2 will involve the section of road from the WT Weaver traffic circle to Owen Hall. It will begin in November and is expected to continue through April 2024.
See the map below for more details on the closures and changes in traffic patterns.
Questions or Concerns?
Contact Campus Operations at campus_operations@unca.edu or 828.251.6564.
