Construction on Campus set to end in May

Lara Oosthuizen, Karla van Dyk

On 15 October 2022, construction started on Hatfield Campus to upgrade the domestic and fire water networks as well as the 11kV network. Seven months later, construction is still ongoing.

What are the estimated timelines?

According to Ludolf van der Merwe, deputy for technical services at the University of Pretoria, they are “expediting both projects to be completed by the end of May 2023”. This shortens the timeline of upgrades for domestic and fire water networks by half a month, as they were previously estimated to finish on 15 June 2023. Furthermore, these new projections will shorten the 11kV network upgrades, which were set to end on 23 August 2023, by three months.

Why is the estimated timeline so lengthy?

“It is [the] nature of construction projects. We are actually executing the project in phases to avoid congestion on campus,” stated Van der Merwe. The constructions are still within their respective timelines, and despite complications due to 26 days of rain within the projects, they “are catching up on lost times”.

What do the students think?

PDBY asked Daniël Gouws, a third-year LLB student, and Lathan Dooms, an English Honours student, about their thoughts on the construction. Neither students knew the exact reason for the building work, but Gouws guessed that it was “for laying down pipes or for sanitation”. For Gouws, the construction has impacted his mobility in the following way: “It has made it difficult to move around campus because over the last three or four years, I have developed my own routes. [...] So, it is inconvenient for me to find new ways and longer routes.” Similarly, Dooms said, “It’s increased my walk time. Like when I go to Vida e Caffé by the Law Building and Centenary, I can’t cut through [certain areas any more].” Both Gouws and Dooms guessed that the construction will be completed by the end of the July recess.

What else can we expect from the construction?

Preparations for the third phase of the domestic and fire water network upgrades are underway, and this phase will commence shortly. The fourth and final phase will be completed at the beginning of 2024.