Progress Updates
The drainage and infrastructure project is complete, except for a few minor items on the list! So, beginning tomorrow morning, we will finally open all areas of campus that were closed during the final stages of construction. This includes the new grand entrance to campus from Hwy 71, the traffic circles, Thelma Ethridge Drive, and Gary Tisdale Drive for vehicle traffic, the new parking lot, and the entire walkway for pedestrian traffic. Additionally, the library roofing replacement is wrapping up, and the library parking lot is set to open on Monday, October 10th. Again, thank you all for your patience during these two projects.
The drainage and infrastructure project has progressed to the point of needing to close the area of Middleton Drive between parking lot 7 (Student Center lot) and the Bookstore / Student Center breezeway and the Live Oaks entrance. All foot traffic from Lot 7 and the Oaks will need to be temporarily rerouted further down Middleton Drive towards the Mulder Hall Plaza. During this time, the breezeway between the Bookstore and Student Union will only be accessible from the Quad, and the Live Oaks Room will only be accessible from inside the Student Union. This closure is anticipated to last approximately 2-3 weeks. The attached map shows the extended closure in red. This closure will be effective tomorrow, Thursday June 2nd.
Areas still impacted are:
- Grady Britt is closed from 71 through the intersection of Garry Tisdale Drive.
- Garry Tisdale Drive is closed from Lot 1 all the way to the new grand entrance.
- The western most sidewalk that connects Lot 1 and Chambers Hall is closed.
- The small parking lot in front of Chambers Hall is permanently closed.
- Lot 1 will be accessible from Garry Tisdale from Hwy 3170.
- Lot 2 will is accessible from driving west on Grady Britt.
Entrances to campus:
- From Hwy 71: Gregg Marshall Drive
- From Hwy 3170: Jerry Myrick Drive
- From Hwy 3170: Tom Bowman Drive
- From Hwy 3170: Garry Tisdale Drive – access to Lot 1 only.
Once again, thank you for your continued patience. We’re still on track for a summer completion.
The drainage and infrastructure project has progressed to the point of closing the intersection of Grady Britt and Garry Tisdale Drive for the construction of the second (north) round-about. The attached road closure map shows the closures in red, and the re-opening of Lot 2 – behind Coughlin Hall in green. All changes below will be effective Wednesday, March 31.
Impacted areas. All shown in red or green on closure attachment.
- Grady Britt will be closed from 71 through the intersection of Garry Tisdale Drive.
- Garry Tisdale Drive will be closed from Lot 1 all the way to the new grand entrance.
- The western most sidewalk that connects Lot 1 and Chambers Hall will be closed.
- The small parking lot in front of Chambers Hall will be permanently closed.
- Lot 1 will be accessible from Garry Tisdale from Hwy 3170.
- Lot 2 will reopen and be accessible from driving west on Grady Britt. This road will reopen.
Entrances to campus. All shown in blue on the full campus attachment.
- From Hwy 71: Gregg Marshall Drive
- From Hwy 3170: Jerry Myrick Drive
- From Hwy 3170: Tom Bowman Drive
- From Hwy 3170: Garry Tisdale Drive – access to Lot 1 (green)
Once again, thank you for your continued patience. We’re still on track for a summer completion.
As the drainage/infrastructure project continues to move forward, we have another parking lot closure this week. Lot 2 (the small lot between Coughlin and Chambers) will close on Wednesday, January 26th for several weeks while construction is completed in that area. The large science parking log (Lot 1) will remain open and available. The graphic below shows sidewalk access in blue from Lot 1 to other campus areas.
Those who work in Abrams Hall should consider lot’s 5 and 7 for closer access.Work continues on the new entrance and round-about as well as the new parking lot on the south side of campus near the CSO. Portions of Middleton and Grady Britt remain closed at this time as well.
Future updates will include the closure of the Grady Britt entrance from Hwy 71 while the construction on the smaller round-about at the intersection of Grady Britt and Gary Tisdale Drive is underway. This will be later in the spring and other options will be available to enter campus by that time. Thanks again for your patience on this critical project!
We are seeing significant progress in the drainage and infrastructure project on campus. With progress, as you can certainly see, we are also seeing many disruptions and inconveniences for all of us. Strategic Communications has been working with Risk Management to install signage in areas that are closed. Signage is also being placed on entrances to buildings that links to a new website with updates regarding the project and updates. This can be accessed at: http://www.lsua.edu/progress.
Another major change is happening this week – The front entrance of Abrams Hall will be closed until further notice. It will be later in the spring before it reopens. In the meantime, the attached campus map gives directions on accessing Abrams from various parking lots. The building itself can be accessed by the three entrances on the west side or the two entrances on the east side.
Parking on the south side of campus (Lots 5, 6 & 7) will access campus near Acorn Drive. Pedestrians may cross near the Foundation House and Cafeteria – then proceed through the Bookstore/Cafeteria breezeway.
The intersection at Grady Britt and Jerry Myrick remains closed at this time as well. It should reopen in the upcoming weeks.
Please use caution while traveling in construction zones – both in vehicles and while walking.
As always, if you have any questions, or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time.
Campus Map
Library Parking Lot # 8 and Plant Parking Lot # 21 will be closed until further notice to all vehicle parking due to drainage culvert installations.
Alternate parking available on Lot’s 9, 10, and 14.
Grady Britt Dr. from Coughlin Hall ( Nursing Building ) to the intersection of Grady Britt Dr. and Jerry Myrick Dr. will be closed to all vehicle travel until further notice due drainage culvert installations.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience.
Any questions please contact the LSUA Police Department at 318-473-6427.
Construction will continue in the yellow blocks shown on Middleton Drive near Mulder Hall and the Student Center on the south side of campus and along Grady Britt Drive near the entrances to Lot 9 (Mulder) on the north side of campus.
Additionally, construction on the new circle drive near the west end of Middleton Drive and Thelma Ethridge Drive will begin within the next week. As such, this area will be closed and off limits.
Please use caution while traveling in these zones. Sections of these roads may be closed at times. While every effort is being made to keep roadways as clean as possible, due to the nature of this project, roadways in construction zones will be covered with dirt/mud at all times.
Closures and additional updates
- Middleton Drive, from Gary Tisdale to Acorn Drive, will be permanently closed as of Monday, October 4, 2021. This is the area in front of Abrams Hall shown in red on the above campus map. Additionally, the portion of Thelma Etheridge Drive from the CSO Entrance all the way to Middleton will be closed. This includes the small parking lot – Lot 4.
- Parking for Abrams Hall should relocate to lots 1, 2, 5, 6 or 7 – the closest two are lots 5 and 7.
- Access to Lots 5, 6 and 7 will be available from the south entrance to campus (Gregg Marshall Drive), then north on Acorn Drive, turning left at the Children’s Center.
- The two north entrances to Lot 7 will be permanently closed. The two south entrances will remain open.
- All sidewalks remain open at this time; however, there will be times when road crossings may be redirected or temporarily unavailable. Please follow signage and construction barriers accordingly.
- Access to Lot 9 (Mulder Hall) will remain available through at least 1 of the 3 entrances (arrows shown in blue). There will be times when the east entrances must be accessed from Tom Bowman (from Hwy 3170 or Gregg Marshall Drive).
