Fence is safety concern for pedestrians

Some East Quad students are concerned the fence on the north side of
the Woldt Towers construction site has created an unsafe situation for
pedestrians and drivers.

The fence installed to keep people out of the site closely borders
Ojibway Court. There is no longer a sidewalk or grass for students to
walk on so they must walk on the side of the road instead.

Roseville sophomore Lisa Romatz, an East Quad resident, said if
people are not careful they may find themselves in a hazardous
situation. She said even though there is construction and a low speed
limit, drivers have not changed their driving habits.

“People always drive real fast down this road,” she said.

Clinton Township freshman Steve Cullen said he is concerned many
drivers may be distracted and miss pedestrians walking around the
barrier.

“I don’t think people driving here can see you,” he said.

Cullen said in between classes the area is even more dangerous.

“It’s a smaller area to walk through so it is more congested,” he
said.

Rockford Construction Company is handling the Woldt Towers project.

The company does not feel the fence puts students at risk. The
company continues to make sure students are safe, said project manager
Barry LaFreniere.

“We took as little of the walkway as possible,” he said. “We wanted
to give students as much room as they possibly could.”

LaFreniere said the fence could not be moved any farther back from
the road without disrupting the entire project.

“We have to relocate the sanitary sewer farther out due to the
construction of the two new residence halls,” he said.

The new sewer will run alongside the road.

“The unfortunate thing is students keeping ripping our fences down,”
he said.

He said the fences on the west side of the site have come two or
three times.