A new asphalt path has temporarily been put in place on Lincoln Field to replace the existing sidewalk currently blocked by the construction of the Metcalf Laboratory Building.
To some, the path seemed to have appeared overnight — Karina Alventosa '13 said she saw "one guy turn in circles a few times" — but Paul Dietel, director of project management, said the decision to create the path was made a month ago. He cited the muddy track that had been created by people ignoring the signs and walking across the grass, thereby damaging it, as reasons for implementation.
Dietel said the temporary path would cause no lasting damage to the green.
Dietel said he anticipates the temporary sidewalk will be taken out in September 2011, when the pre-existing sidewalk will be available again.
The cost of the path was about $10,000, according to Dietel. Within the scope of the $42 million renovation project, this sum is seen as "minor" and falls under the "construction mitigation" category, Dietel said.
Besides serving as a campus thoroughfare, Lincoln Field is mainly used for recreational sports. The club cricket team uses it for practice. Dietel said he did not anticipate that the walkway would create problems for athletics.
