(04-10-2013 03:18 PM)WeThePurple Wrote: Sounds like we are several years away. I would assume 2-3 years to build the new convo once an actual decision is made/funding is found. Figure, a year or so for design, bid it out, etc, and then close to 2 years to build.
I wonder where it would be built?
The master plan has it being built where the old softball field is. That's located just above the current Convo. I have heard another location suggested, but its been shot down like so many good ideas. That suggestion was to build it in the area between the Forbes Center and the old Harrisonburg High location. Currently, there are some old unused warehouses in that location. JMU owns the property, there are parking decks close by, several major roads would feed the location (42, 11) making it easier to access than the nightmare that is the Convo road and Port Rep. and it would better connect the old part of campus with the baseball and softball field locations. But, this makes too much sense for Mr. King to consider.
That would be cool. I'm sure there is some unused rail line down that way too. It would be amazing to pregame in some old rail cars a la USC Cockabooses for their football games.
I always thought it would be cool to incorporate the Railroad into the football game atmosphere. Even if it were just something like a locomotive steam whistle after a score or to simply let everyone know there's 30 minutes to kickoff. I know Georgia Tech and Purdue do it, but their's is for a different reason. Let's face it- having a railroad cut through campus is fairly unique; might as well have some fun w/ it.
I personally like whistle #2 at the 1:00 minute mark:
(This post was last modified: 04-11-2013 03:15 PM by olddawg.)
(04-11-2013 02:29 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote: I don't see why roads are such a big issue. Building a new facility isn't going to increase traffic by much at all. We won't suddenly have 8,000 at a game. We have over 20,000 at football games using the same roads.
Yeah, traffic is part of going to sports games. I don't really think it's any worse leaving the Convo than anywhere else I've been.
Does anyone have an idea on when the new Convo will be built? I had heard from someone (I can't remember who) that construction would begin next year or in 2015 and opening in 2016 or 2017. But with the UREC expansion starting I can't believe they would do simultaneous construction in such a small area. I would love to see us be able to take advantage right now with recruiting better players by saying they will be able to play in a new arena on top of the NCAA exposure.
The difference between basketball and football traffic and parking are the weekday games. A lot of the event parking is used for normal JMU daily activities and a big JMU basketball event, that may have over 8,000, can have a small disruption in that day's parking. This used to be a problem back when we played in Godwin and even the first few years of the Convo. We all know its been a non-issue, unfortunately, for quite some time.
(04-11-2013 12:15 PM)POTUS#4 Wrote: Has anyone ever seen any sort proposed improvement plan for the I-81 / Port Republic interchange? It's a complete disaster [which is why the signage on I-81 directs traffic to exit 247, I suppose] but I have my doubts that there is room to do a legitimate rebuild without demolishing all the businesses in the immediate vicinity and probably relocating the adjacent roads that lead into JMU. I hope there's a Plan B somewhere.
I think the one thing that could get them to start really seriously considering a change is the widening of I-81 further down south to 6 lanes. I'm fairly certain that their hope was to widen it to 6 lanes from the Blacksburg area up to Winchester, which might be overkill but would certainly make traffic much more manageable. If this is done through Harrisonburg, they'll be forced to demolish the current Port Republic overpass because it simply isn't wide (or long?) enough to fit 6 lanes under.
I should also note that they've already fixed one of the overpass bridges in the area of Harrisonburg on the south side of town between exit 243 and 245 where those new apartment complexes are being built. They can now fit 6 lanes under there.
The main issue with Port Rd. would be where to send traffic for the ~3-6 months it would take to rebuild the bridge. That would be a disaster.
Well, all the construction south on 81 is prepping for expansion to 6 lanes. Anyone who has driven through Salem up to Christiansburg knows the road work going on. Plus, the work past Buchanan and near Lexington was all done with 6 lanes in mind. It will be another 20 to 30 years, but eventually 81 will be 6 lanes from the WV/VA line down to Christiansburg--mainly because of the truck traffic.
It would be wonderful if 81 could be tunneled or enclosed through campus. Six lanes each way and even more traffic - would make a split campus even worse.
(This post was last modified: 04-14-2013 09:02 AM by JMU_Rocks!.)
(04-18-2013 01:02 PM)Dukes86 Wrote: I don't know how this hasn't been brought up yet...the new convo will not be complete without flaps...lots and lots and lots of flaps.
Whatever happened to that poster? For some reason, I think that Duuuuuukes ran him off. Speaking of Duuuuuuukes where the hell has he been? I miss him. He always found a way to light up the boards.
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Convo upgrade possibility?
