Road Work Completes University 'Beltway', 1979

Scranton Times article regarding the paving of Ridge Row near the University of Scranton.

1979-11-17

Flanagan, Robert

Newspaper clippings

University Commons

Linden Street

Ridge Row

University of Scranton Archives

univscrapbook-b063_0316b

Archival Records

St. Thomas Hall and University Commons

Times Shamrock Communications

[Please note that computer-generated transcripts include formatting, spelling, and grammatical irregularities and errors.]
Update
Road Work Completes University 'Beltway'
By ROBERT FLANAGAN
Times Staff Writer
The completion of paving of Ridge Row between Monroe and N. Webster Avenues earlier this week has provided a "beltway" around the University of Scranton.
This removes the last serious obstacle to development of the University Commons project in the 900 and 1000 blocks
of Linden Street to make the university campus a more unified entity.
John S. Flanagan, vice president of business and management for the university, sent a letter to Mayor Eugene F. Hickey informing him that the pave work had been completed. Flanagan's letter praised Anthony Caruso, head of the Office of Economic and Community Development, and Director of Public Works Gaynor Cawley. "These men are to be commended for their efforts in helping improve this street," Flanagan wrote. "We also want to thank the Hill Neighborhood Association for their cooperative assistance in this effort."
The ease and rapidity now in getting around the university is areal improvement in traffic flow and safety," he added. "It is a pleasure now to travel the 'beltway' around the university, from the enlarged turning triangle at Monroe and Linden, around the improved corner at Monroe and Ridge Row and around the improved turning corner at N. Webster and Ridge Row. With the two-way traffic implemented last year in the 300 block of Monroe between Linden and Mulberry, the 'beltway' is complete."
Flanagan said the university has complied with all of the requirements of City Council's conditions set forth in the ordinance to provide foreclosing the two blocks of Linden Street. He said the university has provided roughly 150 new off-street parking spaces to more than offset the loss of 41 parking spaces on Ridge Row and 43 on Linden Street which will be lost by the closing of Linden Street and rerouting of traffic via Ridge Row.
He also said surveys have been completed on the need for traffic signals on Mulberry Street and he noted that the university has placed in escrow some $40,000 for the installation of traffic signals should the city and the state Department of Transportation determine at some future date that a signal may be needed at Mulberry Street and N. Webster Avenue.
Flanagan also told The Times that the university will post the necessary signs to regulate traffic flow and parking without cost to the city. He also noted that the plans for the Commons have been approved by the Scranton Fire Bureau.
He explained that the plan calls for closing the 900 and 1000 blocks of Linden Street and replacing existing pave with a brick pave in a somewhat serpentine pattern. He stressed, however, that in the event of an emergency fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles will be able to move through the area. He added that for certain functions at the university, such as basketball games or graduation ceremonies, the street can be opened to ease traffic flow.
He said present plans call for construction work to get under way next summer in the Commons area.
He said the Hill Neighborhood Association has been very supportive in this and other university development plans and that the result is a general area improvement and better security for the entire area around the university.

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