The Rivers Street Parking Deck opened for use last week, allowing permit holders to facilitate the new structure after a two-month delay in completion.
   Originally anticipated to be finished in June, the deck was delayed due to a lack of coordination between the construction companies, which resulted in a dearth of manpower.
   According to Jane Helm, vice chancellor for business affairs, “Progress on the deck got a little behind this summer because they were often under-manned.”
   The deck is located between the CAP Science Building and Kerr Scott Hall. Despite the delay in the deck’s construction, the project may actually be under budget once the university collects liquidated damages.
   “We’re going to sit down and have a discussion with the companies, which should result in us being compensated for the delay,” said Dr. Clyde Robbins, director of Design and Construction on campus. “There is a good chance we will be under the original budget after we collect the damages.”
Now the deck is open, campus officials turn their attention toward selling the 650 available spaces.
   “As of now, about 350 spots have been sold,” said Barry Sauls, director of the Parking and Traffic Department.
Helm and Robbins said they fully expected sales to be slow at first.
   “Parking decks usually sell very slowly during the first year,” said Helm. “Once students start arriving on campus and discover the lack of parking spaces, many will end up purchasing spots [in the deck].”
   Helm said she would not be surThe Rivers Street Parking Deck opened for use last week, allowing permit holders to facilitate the new structure after a two-month delay in completion.
Originally anticipated to be finished in June, the deck was delayed due to a lack of coordination between the construction companies, which resulted in a dearth of manpower.
   According to Jane Helm, vice chancellor for business affairs, “Progress on the deck got a little behind this summer because they were often under-manned.”
   The deck is located between the CAP Science Building and Kerr Scott Hall. Despite the delay in the deck’s construction, the project may actually be under budget once the university collects liquidated damages.
   “We’re going to sit down and have a discussion with the companies, which should result in us being compensated for the delay,” said Dr. Clyde Robbins, director of Design and Construction on campus. “There is a good chance we will be under the original budget after we collect the damages.”
Now the deck is open, campus officials turn their attention toward selling the 650 available spaces.
   “As of now, about 350 spots have been sold,” said Barry Sauls, director of the Parking and Traffic Department.
Helm and Robbins said they fully expected sales to be slow at first.
   “Parking decks usually sell very slowly during the first year,” said Helm. “Once students start arriving on campus and discover the lack of parking spaces, many will end up purchasing spots [in the deck].”
   Helm said she would not be surprised if the deck only sold about 500 spaces this year.
Robbins said he believes that as additional parking areas fall victim to their own construction projects, the deck will see an increase in sales.
   “It will be real interesting when they close off the Whitener lot,” said Robbins, referring to the construction of the new library, which will begin in Spring 2003. “That’s 270 spaces right there that will be closed off.”
   The deck is open to faculty, staff and students, and spots are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Approximately 100 of the deck’s spaces will remain open permanently to allow for visitor/hourly parking.
   As of today, the deck will be made available to the public, which will pay hourly rates to use the facility. The first hour will cost $2, while each subsequent hour will cost $1, with $5 the maximum daily charge.
   Although the parking section of the deck is completed, the office space that will soon house the Parking and Traffic Department as well as the University Police Department will remain vacant.
   Once predicted to be done by Aug.15, Robbins said the offices will not be ready for move-in until around fall break. Work on the office portion of the deck was put on hold in an attempt to finish the parking area by the start of the fall semester.