Two overhead pedways on the St. John's campus that cross Prince Philip Drive are slated for major change in the name of public safety.

The east pedway, running from the front of R. Gushue Hall to the front of Coughlan College, will be taken down as early as September (weather permitting), once the renovation of the existing tunnel under the parkway is complete.

The west pedway, which carries pedestrians from the Chemistry-Physics building to the Earth Sciences building and the University Centre, will also be removed, but not until a new pedway is built connecting Chemistry-Physics with the University Centre. The new walkway will be built over the coming year and the old section will come down next summer.

“The two pedways have reached the end of their useful lives,” said Ann Browne, associate vice-president of facilities. “In both cases, providing safe, cost-effective alternatives for those looking to cross Prince Philip Drive, one of the busiest roads in the province, is our priority. The upgrades to the tunnel as well as the rerouting of the west pedway also improve accessibility on campus.”

The tunnel upgrades include the addition of a lift, improvements to lighting, increased tunnel width, and the addition of an open entry point to the tunnel on the north side of the parkway. The tunnel is part of an underground network called MUNnels that connect major buildings on campus.

The overall cost of the project, including removing both pedways, improving the underground tunnel and adding the new walkway from Chemistry-Physics, is approximately $3 million.

The benefit is a “safer, environmentally controlled space for students, faculty and staff,” said Ms. Browne.

A consultant who studied foot traffic patterns at Memorial concluded that the changes would result in a minimal increase in pedestrian traffic through the University Centre food court.

It was a concern for safety that brought the pedways into existence 35 years ago. On Oct. 17, 1980, Memorial student Judy Lynn Ford was killed while crossing Prince Philip Drive. Students affected by the news of her death gathered at the crosswalk in such growing numbers that the parkway was shut down for several days. The blockade of the parkway finally ended with a commitment from the city for funding to build the two pedways.