By Brian Dillon
Staff Writer

The Ross-Ade Stadium renovation is moving along as planned. However, no construction can be expected until the end of the upcoming football season.

The first change will be the relocation of both Russell and University streets. These two streets, which are adjacent to the stadium, will be pushed outward in order to allow for the expansion of the stadium.

The surveying job needed for the work on those roads has been completed; however, until construction starts after the upcoming season, only design and engineering work on those roads will be done.

Construction is not starting over the summer mostly because of the problems it would cause during football games.

"It would screw up traffic flow into the University (on game days)," said athletic director Morgan Burke.

There will be no major changes to the stadium during the season. Actual work on it will not begin until after the season ends and the relocation of the roads is started.

Once construction on those roads begins, they will most likely only be used for one-way traffic. This is because the two roads are planned to be wide enough to only allow one and a half cars each. This will cause some inconvenience for drivers, but Burke is optimistic.

"I don't think it'll be that bad. Of course any construction isn't good, but we'll try to minimize (the inconvenience)" said Burke.

The three-part renovation will ultimately bring more room, more facilities and more seats to the stadium.

Phase one of the project will take approximately three years, ending in time for the 2003 season. This phase will focus on adding more concession stands, more restrooms (a doubling of the men's and a tripling of the women's), a wider concourse, new seating and a new press box.

The $60 million phase one will actually decrease the capacity of the stadium. That is where phases two and three come in, adding upper decks to both the north and east ends. This will increase the capacity from the current 67,000 to 80,000. The second two years of the first phase are still being planned because construction sequencing still needs to be decided.