Campus employees recently smoothed the way for drivers and bicyclists who use the Hutchison Drive overpass at the west edge of the central campus.

That route is expected to see more traffic soon as a result of underground utilities work on Old Davis Road and the California Avenue bridge at the campus's south entry. Campus officials are urging drivers to use Highway 113 and Hutchison Drive instead.

So, before the onslaught, Facilities Civil & Industrial Services repaired deep ruts in the west and east approaches to the overpass. Dave Klippert, manager of the unit formerly called Agricultural Services, said the ruts had long been "a source of consternation to motorists and bicyclists alike."

"Over the six-day period in which repairs were made, motorists constantly clapped, cheered and gave thanks," he said.

The Hutchison Drive overpass, besides taking regular traffic from Old Davis Road, is the designated haul route for material that is due to be excavated for the utilities project and then brought back after the pipes go in. Klippert estimated that as many as 600 loaded trucks will cross the overpass from June to September.

"With Picnic Day and the opening of the new stadium rapidly approaching, we thought we should do something now to ease the burden on commuters and truckers alike," he said.

Klippert said a more extensive reconstruction effort is tentatively planned for the spring of 2008 after completion of trenching work on La Rue Road and California Avenue.

— Dave Jones