CONSTRUCTION around TU causing traffic hassles

TU's Golden Hurricane opened a new season at Skelly Stadium Thursday night. The "Cane" drove the ball up and down the field, but the going wasn't so easy outside the stadium. Drivers sound off

Friday, August 31st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TU's Golden Hurricane opened a new season at Skelly Stadium Thursday night. The "Cane" drove the ball up and down the field, but the going wasn't so easy outside the stadium. Drivers sound off about road construction near the university.

News on Six reporter Heather Brooker takes a closer look at what are slowing fans down. The shut down comes from so much construction in the area. And it doesn't look like there's any end in sight. It may have been time for kick-off inside Skelly Stadium. But outside, drivers were ticked-off. Driver, Lamont Overstreet, "it's hectic. They need to do something with it. Itâ€™s outrageous." The outrage comes from stop and go traffic backed up for blocks down Harvard.

City officials say the stretch of road between 11th and 15th needs repairs to potholes and cracks in the road. 5 o'clock traffic at an intersection on 11th is bad enough. But when you add thousands of TU fans heading to the big game, it's almost unbearable." Driver, Raquel Rotz, "I'm thinking of all the football games and the basketball games. I was just thinking about that and Iâ€™m not gonna like it. Iâ€™m thinking of another way to get down here." Another driver, Chad Bonham, "They pick their spots sometimes poorly and I wish they would do a better job of spreading stuff around so it doesn't slow stuff down so badly." Since the area of construction around TU is focused on 11th to 15th, city officials suggest using Lewis or Yale to avoid any slow downs. Some drivers say they know it's a hassle but it has to be done. Eva Marie Campbell, "well it's very inconvenient but it's very necessary. Why is it necessary? Because it's been needed with all of the potholes and all of the yuckiness so itâ€™ll be good when it's doneâ€ But other drivers say they plan to avoid this area all together, especially during game season. Rotz, "I'm thinking Iâ€™m going to be taking a different route. Yes."

Photojournalist Jake Snow and Heather Brooker took that drive from 11th to 15th on Harvard, and it took them about 8 minutes to go 4 blocks. That might not seem like much time but it can be if you're in a hurry. Officials say the construction will take up to 30 days to complete. The best thing you can do during TU games is avoid the area as much as possible.