Sacramento State construction projects just keep going, and Facilities Service Associate Vice President Ron Richardson foresees no slowdown in his work.

Outside the University Union students have been using the completed dining area.

Senior nursing major Julie Cope thinks she could get used to having the new outdoor area around.

“In the cafeteria it can get really loud and noisy,” Cope said. “Once the foliage closes a little more around it, it’s going to be really nice looking.”

The project underwent two phases of construction. Phase one included construction of a wood trellis and addition of 75 seats along the walkway of the Union’s entrance that faces Parking Structure II.

Assistant Director of Operations Don Tucker said phase two ?” the addition of 75 seats near the campus’ Box Office ?” was more complicated.

Each phase had different requirements with its own specific costs, Tucker said, with phase one coming in around $200,000 and phase two costing about $300,000.

The project required the precise measuring of steel I-Beam girders to be fitted to the existing cafeteria structure, and the construction had to be delayed due to a miscalculated measurements, Tucker said, adding that the completion date was nearly a month late.

Other students wonder why the project was necessary though.

“It’s not like the Library,” said senior psychology major Michelle Soriano.

With the weather changing and the abundance of other construction noises going on around her, Soriano thought the $500,000 it cost could have been used better.

“They got ripped off,” said Soriano. “It’s not going to be effective with all the outside noise and the construction.”

Although Soriano thought the area looked nice, with the weather getting worse she thought all the money spent could have been used to make the area more weather resistant.

Meanwhile, the Infrastructure II plans for the renovation to the campus’ steam and cold water lines running underneath the grounds has presented a detour between the Library and the Academic Information Resource Center.

However, the project is proceeding as planned with only minor delays coming in the form of unforeseeable underground obstructions.

The obstructions are usually only roots and rocks, but can post problems to workers, said Victor Takahashi, director of facilities planning and construction services. The renovation is all part of the Infrastructure II project plan.

“The campus infrastructure upgrade is being done in various phases,” Richardson said.

Right now, the project is in its second phase, which involves the connection of the pipe works from the parking lot located right behind the University Union and the newly developing parking structure to the Library. Once that is finished the final phase will include connecting the lines to new bookstore, which is slated to be open in fall 2007.

The work, which began in June, has encountered minimal and should see completion as early as the end of the year problems, Richardson said.

The estimated costs for the entire Infrastructure II project is $18,691,000 with an estimated completion date of summer 2007.

The bike path renovation on the west end of State University drive near the train tracks is nearing completion, Takahashi said. The trail was removed in October when a 35,000-gallon septic tank needed to be installed. The tank was needed to store sewage for the growing university. The asphalt for the trail needs to be painted along with the removal of certain gates along Sinclair Road, and Takahashi said the project’s estimated completion date will be in January 2007.

Josh Staab can be reached at [email protected]