Lorado Taft Shared-Use Path Construction Begins

Construction to widen the Lorado Taft Path from Fourth Street to Sixth Street, just south of Huff Hall, Wymer Hall, and the Business Instructional Facility, will begin Tuesday, October 27, and will necessitate pedestrian and bicyclist reroutes for the rest of the semester. The improvements will reduce congestion and increase safety for all active transportation modes by adding a new 8-foot section directly south of the existing shared-use path. Once the project is complete, the south half of the path will be for pedestrians, while the north half will accommodate bike and e-scooter traffic.

Recommended Pedestrian, Bicyclist, and Micromobility Reroutes

During construction, the following reroutes (map PDF) are recommended for pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility users, shifting travel to nearby sidewalks and streets with dedicated bike lanes and sharrows. Please review the options below to familiarize yourself with the one that best fits your travel needs. Construction will occur in two phases. In Phase 1, work will focus on areas adjacent to Wymer Hall and the Business Instructional Facility. North/south pathway access will remain between the Siebel Center for Design and Huff Hall. Specific building information, including accessible entrances and interior access route details, is available on the campus Facility Access Maps website.

Pedestrians

• Use the sidewalk adjacent to Huff Hall and the Business Instructional Facility to proceed north to Gregory Drive. To reduce congestion on the sidewalk immediately south of Wymer Hall and the Business Instructional Facility and east of Huff Hall, use those paths only if you need access to those facilities.

Bicyclists and Micromobility Users

• Take Fourth Street or Sixth Street north to Gregory Drive to continue east/west travel.

Thank you for your patience and assistance as these improvements are made. This project is being supported in part by Student Sustainability Committee funding and aligns with Bike at Illinois strategic objectives.

Please remember to slow down, follow traffic laws, and use caution when traveling through construction zones on campus. For questions, contact Transportation Demand Management Coordinator Stacey DeLorenzo sdeloren@illinois.edu, 217-300-1750. Your assistance in notifying other students, faculty, staff, community members, and visitors who may be impacted by this closure is greatly appreciated.