The west entrance of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union will be closed off beginning Monday to accommodate contractors as they construct a new entrance to the location, said Shirley Stewart, associate vice president for student affairs.

The university plans to have the entrance blocked off to the public until early October while contractors work on the new food court as well, Stewart said.

The west entrance, the one across from McAfee Gymnasium, will be completely remodeled as part of the new food court construction currently in progress, said Carol Strode, interim director of facilities planning and management.

“The west entrance will house (an) elevator to make the food court more assessable,” Strode said.

Stewart said the awning located at the entrance also will be removed as part of the reconstruction.

The decision to close off the entrance stemmed from the contractors involved in the project, she said.

“The contractors thought it would be a good idea to do this,” Stewart said. “They are going to be doing a lot of work around that area, and we do not want to do anything to slow up the construction process.”

Strode said it is a safeguard to the campus to have the west entrance off limits while work is done on it.

“All construction sites are closed off for the safety of our campus community still using the building,” Strode said. “It is out of necessity to protect pedestrians from the construction site.”

Stewart said she does not expect anyone to be inconvenienced by the decision to close off the west entrance.

“I don’t think it will be a huge inconvenience to students,” Stewart said. “(The construction) is just going to go around one side of the building.”

Stewart said everyone will continue to have access to the interior of the union, despite the blocked entrance. Signs will be posted directing students to enter the union from the east entrance, she said.

Stewart expressed excitement about the progress workers are continuously making on the food court construction project, slated to be completed in early 2002.

“We are seeing great strides (concerning the food court construction),” Stewart said. “I have a view of the union from my office area, and I am seeing all kinds of demolition.”

She said all the railing around the patio decking located on the north side of the union has been torn down.

“That area will be the atrium area (of the food court),” Stewart said.