Sometimes, too much orange can be a good thing. Construction on and around campus has been constant for the past eight years, including interstate and street construction and new buildings and renovations.

The city’s sewer separation project is scheduled for completion in November for areas near campus. Presently, Cuming Street is closed between 24th and 27th Streets, causing the relocation of the Burt Street parking lot and increasing traffic congestion around Creighton’s campus.

“There are attempts being made to minimize disruption on and around campus, especially for the sewer separation and bridge work projects, but we are encouraging everyone to just be patient,” said Rick McAuliffe, director of Public Safety.

In terms of parking, Public Safety recommends faculty and staff traveling at peak traffic times park on the top level of the 24th Street garage and students park at the parking lot at 22nd and Cuming Streets.

The interstate reconstruction of the I-480 and US-75 interchange, which began Aug. 31, 2009 and is scheduled for completion on Dec. 15, 2010, is in its third and final phase, according to Scott Tyrrell of Roadway Design for Nebraska Department of Roads.

The original interchange was built in the 1960s, and the state is seeking to replace the pavement, reconstruct several bridges, improve lane capacities, eliminate left-hand entrances, and improve the sight distance for drivers. Construction is anticipated to be completed before the College World Series in 2011, Tyrrell said.

There are several closures and lane reductions lasting until the completion of the project. Concerning the coming fall and winter, the southbound on-ramp from Hamilton to I-480 southbound will be closed until late fall 2010. There will be a lane reduction from I-480 east of the 17th Street on-ramp, from three to two lanes, and will remain two lanes for the duration of the construction.

Several nighttime closures of Burt and Cuming Streets for bridgework, as well as weekend closures for I-480 westbound lanes and 24th Street for the 24th Street bridgework, are scheduled for the coming fall and winter. Pedestrians will be accommodated with covered walkways.

“The main reason behind the reconstruction is that the existing bridges and pavement have outlived their design life,” Tyrrell said. “The I-480/US-75 construction is the last piece of the interstate system in Omaha that was started in the mid-1980s, and Creighton, along with the traveling public, will benefit for the new construction once it reaches completion.”

The construction by the state was complimented by recently completed projects on Creighton’s campus, including the Ryan Center, officially finished on Aug. 10, the Webster Street Mall between 20th and 18th Streets, and the sewer separation project on Florence Boulevard and Webster Street.

Creighton’s alternative energy project is moving into the design and contracting phase, said Lennis Pederson, associate vice president for administration. The project features a partnership with Omaha Public Power District and includes solar collectors and wind turbines around campus.

“The intent is to generate energy, but also to generate an academic environment,” Pederson said. “The partnership will benefit Creighton and OPPD. Students can learn about renewable energy and potential customers of

OPPD can see how the solar panels and wind turbines function.”

The 24th Street garage and the Kiewit Fitness Center’s south roof will be equipped with solar collectors and the southeast side of the Lied Center will have four wind turbines. A tracker panel will also be ground mounted south of the Lied Center.