Motorists should expect workers and flaggers between South Lincoln Street and College Street as students return to classes this week while utility construction is finalizing, according to the Office of the University Architect on the Summit Street Improvement Project’s website.

Phase one of the Summit Street Improvement Project continued over winter break in other areas as well. The Student Recreation and Wellness Center parking lot, Fraternity Circle to Loop Road and the south side of Summit Street were among those zones of work.

The website states that contractors will occupy the front section of the SRWC parking lot as a staging area.

“Some of the (parking) spots will be limited in that area,” said Jim Boland, a representative from the city of Kent engineering. “The university has had parking (added to the SRWC) to make up for that loss.”

Storm sewer installations will continue around the south side of Lincoln Street while the early phase of work on Fraternity Circle to Loop Road will still be underway, according to the updates.

Boland said the updates that are currently listed will continue as students return from break and last at least until March.

“There will be intermittent delays for those people driving down Summit Street,” Boland said. “We recommend everybody leave at least 5 minutes early on the chance you may get stuck in one of those delays.”

March is when the next major period of construction will occur, Boland said.

The Office of the University Architect listed that there will be a one-way, one-lane eastbound in March around the phase one regions. From this new traffic pattern, changes will occur in two of PARTA’s bus routes.

To follow new announcements and updates, frequently check kent.edu/summitstreet.

Dana Miller is an assigning editor for The Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].