Students and staff may see some major improvements to Duke’s roads, but not anytime soon.
Several roads across campus, most notably Campus Drive, are in poor condition and are deteriorating, students and bus drivers said. The faltering economy, however, has delayed plans to repair most campus roads, Vice President for Campus Services Kemel Dawkins said.
He added that Duke does not want to overhaul roads in advance of major construction projects such as Central Campus renovations, because construction equipment could damage the roads.
“We don’t do major work in advance of capital projects,” Dawkins said.
Until the roads are repaired, drivers and bikers will continue to face the challenges of rough roads.
Bus driver Jose Valencia said he drives slowly and in the middle of the road to help ensure a smooth ride for his passengers.
Valencia, who has been driving Duke buses for three years, said the part of Campus Drive near the Chapel Drive traffic circle is in particularly poor shape.
“The roads have always been in the same bad condition,” he said, adding that many bus drivers change how they drive in response to road conditions.
Valencia said he has not seen any specific damage to the buses caused by potholes, but he believes that there may be some impact.
“I imagine that there are some problems long term,” he said.
Students drivers have also been affected by potholes and cracks.
“My car has bottomed out because of the potholes,” sophomore Meredith Ragno said.
She said one of the worst stretches of road is the fire lane near Keohane Quadrangle.
Senior Jimmy DiMaiolo said Towerview Road near Erwin Road is the worst section of road he has seen on campus.
DiMaiolo has not had any problems with his own car, but said he knows students who have had flat tires after hitting bumps in the road.
But drivers are not the only ones affected.
Freshman Laura Hubbard said she was recently riding a bicycle from East to West Campus when she almost lost control after running over a pothole.
“I almost flipped my bike,” she said.
The University has repaired some roads, Dawkins said.
Repair work on Science Drive was completed this summer, and there are several other small road-repair projects ongoing, including one on Circuit Drive, he noted.
Dawkins said an overhaul of Campus Drive will be tied to plans to renovate Central Campus. Another factor delaying work on Campus Drive is the ongoing construction at the East Campus steam plant.
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