Jason Koski/University Photography

A crew from Economy Paving Co. of Cortland spreads fresh blacktop at the intersection of University and Thurston avenues, Aug. 13. The intersection and bridge are scheduled to reopen Aug. 16.

The Thurston Avenue Bridge, linking North Campus with Central Campus, will reopen Aug. 16 in time for Orientation Weekend, Aug. 17-19. The bridge will remain open for two-way traffic, with one of the pedestrian walks closed until Oct. 31 -- the scheduled date of completion for the $8 million construction project.

Tower Road (south of the College of Veterinary Medicine) also will reopen as of Aug. 17, but the adjacent Wing Drive will be closed for utility construction from Aug. 20 to Sept. 30.

Work on the Thurston Avenue Bridge began in March 2006 and is now 95 percent complete, according to Frank Perry, Cornell's bridge project liaison in the Department of Utilities and Energy Management.

"The contractor has concrete sealing, stone facing to install on the abutment walls, landscaping and some final paving on the north side to do, while a subcontractor is painting under the bridge," Perry said.

The upgraded bridge will include wider sidewalks with lighted guardrails, new bicycle lanes and wider traffic lanes.

TCAT (Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit) buses will resume service over the bridge on Aug. 19 at 7 a.m., including Routes 12, 30, 32, 81,82 83, 85, 92 and 93. See TCAT's Web site at http://www.tcatbus.com or call (607) 277-RIDE (277-7433).

For campus construction updates, visit http://www.aff.cornell.edu/SpecialConditions/CampusConstruction/.