College Prepares Students for Potentially Disruptive Phase of Borough Construction on N. Washington Street
The borough has been working to replace water and storm sewer lines on North Washington Street since the summer. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
By Brandon Fey, News Editor
The Gettysburg Borough has undertaken an infrastructure project to replace the domestic water line and storm sewer line along North Washington Street in an effort to improve stormwater control. Construction has been underway since the summer, though the College is now preparing for the next phase project which will involve a 24/7 burrowing operation beneath the railroad tracks that could potentially cause disruptions for students living in the Ice House Complex. This phase will begin on Nov. 18 and is expected to last for about 10 to 14 days.
The College was not informed about the project prior to the 2024-25 housing selection period in the spring of 2024, making it difficult to relocate students who make such a request. Several offices are therefore taking proactive measures to minimize the disruptions that the burrowing phase may have for students. This drilling is not expected to hinder sidewalk accessibility to the rest of campus, though it is likely to produce a level of noise pollution, the severity of which will remain uncertain until it begins.
On Oct. 8, an information meeting was held for students who may be affected by the burrowing operation. The meeting featured a presentation by the directors of facility planning, operations, Campus Safety and Residential Education followed by a Q&A session. They stated that they are attending regular Borough meetings for updates on the project and encourage students to contact their offices with any questions or concerns.
Director of Residential Education Danielle Phillips stated that her office will be able to provide students living in the area with ear plugs, noise-canceling sleep headbands and sound machines, and can also direct students to mobile apps with similar functions.
“If you anticipate that you or your friends who live out there may need any of these resources, you’ll be able to let the resident office know, and we’ll be able to get them for you,” said Phillips.
The College is committed to keeping students informed via email correspondence, encouraging them to prepare in advance to minimize the disruptions as much as possible.
The construction project is expected to be fully completed by mid-December, and after that is not expected to cause any further disruptions.
(William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
