By Laura Acuff, Student Reporter
Two south rows of faculty and staff parking in the Campus Center Parking Lot closed Monday and may remain so until Feb. 11 because of the Hunter Welcome Center related construction.
“The hope was that we would be able to get most of the [construction] done during Christmas break, obviously to minimize the effect on parking during the school year,” ACU Police Chief Jimmy Ellison said.
A lack of equipment slowed construction over the winter holidays, Ellison said, and work may continue for two to three more weeks, depending on weather.
Ellis said they try to put a positive spin on the situation, and it’s all affiliated with the Hunter Welcome Center.
“It’s temporary. As soon as it’s safe to open it, we’ll open it. Instead of being frustrated with the current situation, try to look past it, forward to having a state-of-the-art welcome center. The finished product will be worth the wait.”
Only faculty and staff spots remain blockaded, and those affected have been asked to seek parking in faculty and staff lots elsewhere on campus, instead of utilizing nearby student parking, Ellis said.
“Right now, [parking is] not too bad because I come in at 7:30. So I pretty much get right there in the parking spot,” said Tammy Powell, Campus Store text and media manager, who usually uses the parking lot under construction right now.
“I haven’t been able to leave for lunch this week, so right now it’s not so bad. Next week, I may just end up parking by Teague because I don’t really want to deal with all the construction and the traffic.”
Despite newly developed parking limitations, Ellis said ACU does maintain adequate parking, though it may not be as convenient as some would prefer. He also said the Hunter Welcome Center’s designs include a new parking lot, adding to ACU’s current parking situation.
Ellis said every campus deals with construction-related parking issues; ACU is not any different.
“When we have issues on campus, we really need everyone to drive safely in these construction areas, comply with any barricades and traffic controls that they see and, the bottom line, be patient,” he said.
