Construction Plans

Last Updated: October 1, 2007

By Louise Donahue

Storm drain work scheduled at Bay and High Streets

Crews doing storm drain work will be working in the median near the main entrance to campus at the intersection of Bay and High Streets until about the middle of the month. Lanes will be closed and delays are possible, but through traffic will continue.

In late October or early November, storm drains will be extended across High Street. That work is likely to have a more significant impact on traffic.

Digital Arts Building work to limit use of access road

drawing of the new Digital Arts Building

Architect's drawing of the Digital Arts Center, northwest view, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Grading work has begun for the Digital Arts Building, near the Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center (see map). The building is scheduled for completion in May 2009. Thirty-six parking spaces will be lost throughout the construction work, and 15 spaces will not be available from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays during construction.

The state-funded $25 million arts building is slated to house the expanding digital arts program as well as provide 10 studios for art faculty, a photography studio, and expanded space for music and theater arts classes. (See 2003 Review article for additional information.)

Bike path detour created as work goes forward on Ranch View Terrace housing

Ranch View Terrace site construction work is under way, with home construction expected to begin around the start of the year, conditions permitting. The project will provide 45 single-family homes in its first phase. The three- and four-bedroom homes will be in the southern section of campus, adjacent to the Arboretum, and south of the Farm and Garden.



The bikepath near the Blacksmith's Shop has been rerouted.

The site has the capacity to include an additional 39 homes in subsequent phases. The first units are expected to be available for occupancy in the fall of 2008. (See Currents story on March 5 groundbreaking.)

The project will include adding a road, tentatively called Ranch View Road, from Coolidge Drive to the homes. Because of the construction traffic and road work, the bike path in the area near the historic Blacksmith's Shop will be detoured during the construction period.

The bike path will then be reconfigured to provide a safer crossing at Ranch View Road and downhill access to Coolidge Drive.

McHenry Library Addition work moving ahead

The contractor is working to complete grading and paving for the McHenry Library project before winter rains begin. Exterior wall finish and window installation is being completed on the addition. Also, interior finish work is progressing, with ceilings and wiring being installed and walls painted. The addition is scheduled to open during winter quarter.

During construction, the pedestrian path/stairs between the Academic Resources Center (ARC) and McHenry Library are closed. The signal-controlled section of the McHenry Access Road will be closed to public access north of the ARC driveway. Since this road is the primary access route for construction vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists should be especially careful or avoid the route altogether.

Those using the pedestrian bridge from Hahn Student Services to the library will also find that one trail has been blocked off during construction. Instead of going either right of left after the bridge, those using the path will have to turn right.

The library addition is designed to better serve library users by increasing space nearly 72 percent, adding approximately 81,600 assignable square feet to the existing 114,000-square-foot library.

Construction will take about four years to complete, and is being done in two two-year phases. The current phase, the addition to the existing building, is expected to open in 2008. The second phase, the renovation and earthquake retrofitting of the existing building, is scheduled to open in 2009. The library will remain open throughout both phases. More information on the McHenry Library Addition and Renovation Project, including frequently asked questions, is available online at library.ucsc.edu/mcadd.


Web sites providing additional information

Visit the Transportation & Parking Services web site for information on parking, maps of the campus, and alternative transportation.

Visit the Physical Planning & Construction web site for updates and maps on road closures, other construction impacts, and current and upcoming construction projects.

Visit the Highway 1/Highway 17 widening for merge lanes project web site for regularly updated information on the improvements to the interchange. The changes include adding merge lanes and reconstructing bridges to address specific safety issues.

Visit Metro Online for information on the Santa Cruz County Metro bus routes and schedules.

Visit the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission web site for information on commute solutions, ridesharing, and helpful links.

Visit the Caltrans Santa Cruz County web site for scheduled lane closures and delays in the county.