Category: Construction

Outdoor recreation at Clemson is about to get even better with exciting changes coming to the area formerly known as “Y-Beach” over the next few semesters. Campus Recreation, Sherman Construction and Cooper Carry Architects are working with University Facilities to add fields and the Outdoor Education Center, which is currently undergoing construction. The project serves not only to capitalize on prime campus real estate and prevent a recurrence of playable field issues, but also to enhance the Campus Recreation for a growing campus population with additional recreation options. The new center will replace the “red barn,” which holds camping, hiking, and kayaking gear for rent to students and members.

Weather-resistant playing fields

The first phase of the project will focus on the addition of fields which are slated to be complete in November 2018. To ensure longevity and resilience to heavy rain, the fields will feature artificial turf.

A new center

The new Outdoor Education Center will be constructed during the second phase of the project. Estimated to open in fall 2019, it will mark a new chapter for the area that borders Lake Hartwell. While specifics on design and layout have not yet been finalized, the current plan for the interior space will feature a sports-lodge theme.

Additional Classroom Spaces

In addition to housing the recreation gear, the building will also include two classrooms for educational courses and leisure activities. Other property features are planned but not yet funded.

Find Out More

Additional information about this project can be found at Campus Recreation’s website, including videos that describe its potential impact to enrich the lives of students at the university.

As utility work continues on S.C. Highway 93 (Hwy. 93) on Clemson’s main campus, drivers should expect delays.

During October, there will be intermittent two-lane closures from Centennial Blvd. to College Ave. as workers install manholes in the road.

Also in that timeframe, workers will close two lanes on Hwy. 93 from Centennial Blvd. to Williamson Rd. as workers install chilled water lines to support the West Energy Plant. Despite the lane closures, two-way traffic will be maintained on the roadway.

All construction will halt on the Wednesday before a home football game to focus on restoring the roads for game traffic.

Hwy. 93 construction is expected to continue through summer 2019.

Thanks to a dedicated group of contractors lead by Hutch-N-Son Construction, Newman road will open Friday July 27, two weeks ahead of schedule. This opening will provide an important connection between Highway 93 and Perimeter Road and aid in traffic delays along east campus routes. Please use caution along the new road and be aware of all new signage including the new traffic signal at the intersection of Newman and Perimeter Roads.

Click on the map below to find out more about the changes to Newman Road.

Barring additional weather delays, Highway 93 is expected to be open on Monday, August 13.

The intersection of Highway 93 and College Avenue will completely close on Wednesday, July 25 and reopen on August 10. Two-lane, two-way traffic along 93 between Cherry Street and Sherman Street will reopen at this time. The date for this closure is subject to possible delays in ongoing construction—communication outlets, including this blog, will be updated on Monday, July 23 if construction delays require the closure to be postponed.

Highway 93 from Cherry Road to Sherman Street will close completely on Saturday, July 14 at 5 am.  This section of 93 will remain closed until July 22nd. A one lane road will remain open between Sherman Street and College Avenue during this time. Flaggers will be present 24 hours a day to allow access to Sherman Street from College Avenue for construction and residential traffic.

No thru-traffic will be allowed.

A significant section of Highway 93 will be closed to traffic on Thursday, July 5, from 9:00 PM until 6:00 AM the following day. The closure will span from the intersection with Sherman Street to the intersection with Cherry Road. The closure is necessary in order to tie new chill water lines from 93 to the College of Business as well as the Alumni Center. During this time, contractor A West will have flaggers at College Avenue and Sherman Street in order to turn that part of the highway into a two-way road.

Due to the difficulties and safety concerns that arose on Sunday, June 24 with attempting to prep barricades and fencing in advance of closing additional street access, the next barricade extension will take place on Sunday, July 1 while traffic is lightest.  The road construction traffic barriers will be extended through the College Avenue intersection.  Once the barriers have been relocated, traffic will not be able to reach College Avenue from Highway 93 traveling eastbound.

Access to Sherman Street And College Avenue from Highway 93 will be “one-way in” traveling from the Cherry Road intersection and “one-way out” traveling towards the Williamson road intersection.

Traffic flowing from College Avenue will still be able to turn right onto Highway 93, but large trucks may have more difficulty making the turn due to the reduced opening onto 93.

Below are several updates to the Highway 93 construction schedule.

Barriers Extended to College Avenue

Road construction traffic barriers are going to be extended on Monday, June 25, to the College Avenue intersection. Traffic along Highway 93 will be one-way only from Cherry Road to College Avenue. At this time, traffic will no longer be able to travel towards Sherman Street from the College Avenue intersection. Access to Sherman from 93 will be “one-way in” traveling from the Cherry Road intersection and “one-way out” traveling towards the College Avenue intersection.

Barriers to be Extended Beyond College Avenue

Road construction traffic barriers are going to be extended on Monday, July 2, to beyond College Avenue intersection. At this time, traffic will not be able to get to College Avenue from Highway 93 North bound. Access to Sherman Street and College Avenue from 93 will be “one-way in” traveling from the Cherry Road intersection and “one-way out” traveling towards the Williamson road intersection.

Highway 93 Closed Completely between Cherry Road and Sherman Street

There will be two nights between 10 pm and 6 am when Highway 93 will be closed completely to allow utilities to be installed across the road. These dates are still to be determined and will be announced several days before closure.

E-11 Parking Lot

As work extends beyond the Mell Hall (E-11) parking lot entrance, access to the parking lot will be left in, left out only. As utilities are crossing the entrance to the parking lot, the lot will have to be closed for one to two days. Dates for this crossing are still to be determined as construction gets closer to this crossing.

College Avenue Access to Highway 93

We are still on schedule and planning to block access to Highway 93 from College Avenue the second half of July.

As construction continues on Highway 93 to upgrade the electrical infrastructure and chilled water lines, workers will shift the barricades that are currently on the road to close an additional lane. As a result, only one lane of travel from Cherry Road to Sherman Road (heading westbound toward Seneca) will be available from Saturday, May 12 to Sunday, August 12. Drivers should expect intermittent shifts in the roadway and are asked to watch for the road signs that signal the shift.

As construction progresses, this closure will be expanded further along 93, past Sherman Road.

The Sikes Hall parking lot will be inaccessible for those entering Calhoun Drive from 93. However, Parkway can still be reached by entering Calhoun from Fort Hill St. or Fernow St.

Updates on the speed of construction will be posted weekly if not daily to this blog. Timeframes are subject to change based on weather and logistics.

The Hoke Sloan Tennis Center continues to undergo renovations that will lead to a modern facility for players and guests.  Now 24 years old, the Center was in need of significant remodeling for the expansion of the Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs.  Once complete, it will meet the needs of collegiate play for decades to come.

Current Progress

The project has concluded its demolition phase as evidenced by the Center’s complete deconstruction and removal.  The area will be entirely refurbished except for the varsity grandstands and courts. A new indoor tennis center will expand the covered courts from 4 to 6 and will be attached to a new clubhouse containing conference rooms, coaching offices, and discrete viewing areas for the courts. The new structure is a pre-engineered metal building that will run east to west to make the best use of the lot’s space, fitting in more area to play. As of this time, the pre-engineered building has arrived, and erection of the steel support pillars has commenced.

Currently without a facility, Clemson’s tennis teams have relocated their practices to Southern Wesleyan in Central and Nettles Park in Pendleton. Meanwhile, Anderson University has served as the host for official matches.

Going Forward

Once finished, the new facility will house locker rooms for both tennis and  soccer teams, the latter of which play at Riggs Stadium. The clubhouse will contain public restrooms and a concessions stand for spectators, and the area will now have its own dedicated lot for guest parking.

While the demolition phase of the project has concluded, there still remains a long road ahead for construction crews in the following months through Spring and Summer (with the project still estimated to be completed sometime in August of 2018) in building the facility. The result will be a complex that will better fit the needs of Clemson’s Tennis program for next year’s season and for many seasons to follow.