Street Closures to Occur in Preparation for New Circle

The City of Tallahassee has closed the construction area between Wahnish Way and Eugenia Street. Starting on Sept. 22, the area was closed in order to complete the construction of FAMU Way and the FAMU Way Circle.

Chanelle Glover, a fourth-year pre-physical therapy student from Jacksonville, Fla., lives in The Rattler Pointe Apartments on Eugenia Street and said that the street closure is going to affect her commute greatly.

“I will have to walk to class more often instead of drive,” Glover said. “I think a lot of people will feel uneasy about it just because it puts people at an inconvenience.”

The FAMU Way extension project broke ground in April of 2014 and is being completed in three phases.

According to Talgov.com, phase one–the FAMU Way and FAMU Way circle—was initially scheduled to be completed in 2016. Instead, both sites will be re-opened during Florida A&M University Homecoming week on Oct. 15.

Chief of FAMU Police Terrence Calloway feels that the homecoming date is a great time to open the site.

“Homecoming is such a big ordeal at FAMU, they wanted to make sure that with the abundance of people on campus that the roundabout will be finished,” Chief Calloway said.

While Chief Calloway feels that opening the site during homecoming is a good idea, Tallahassee native and FAMU graduate student, Arisha Jones, feels that it will be problematic.

“I'm concerned [that] people and pedestrians not being [familiar] with the roundabout could cause accidents,” Jones said. “Traffic will be heavy and won’t flow well. The train could also cause a disruption.”

As a result of the street closure, Gamble Street will be the detour for the month-long street closure. Students feel that the street closure is a great setback.

Talgov.com also stated, “Once completed, the FAMU Way Extension Project will provide an improved, safer roadway and enhanced mobility in the southern region of the city, in addition to offering new benefits and recreational opportunities for the entire community.”