Several sidewalks on campus were recently replaced to prevent injury to pedestrians and to repair water damage.

Pockets on campus were retaining water after heavy rains, causing severe ponding of water over the sidewalks, Carol Strode, interim director of planning and management, said in an e-mail.

The puddles caused sidewalks to deteriorate, and, before the sidewalks could be fixed, contractors, A & R Services, Inc., needed to drain the area surrounding the walks.

The University Development and Recycling Committee expressed concern over pedestrian safety last year when crevices started forming on the walkways.

“The primary concern was for people on roller blades, skateboards, or bikes and even people walking,” said Bill Davidson, speaker of the Student Senate and former University Development and Recycling Committee member.

“We deemed it pretty dangerous because people could have twisted an ankle,” Davidson said.

The project started mid summer and was completed in late August, costing around $180,000.

“I’m happy that they are taking initiative and fixing the sidewalk,” Davidson said.

Walks were replaced in the North Quad, north of the Food Court, in the Library Quad, on the east and west sides of the Booth Library and in the SouthQuad.

Other sidewalks on campus need replacing, but the contractor tried to concentrate on the walks where work was needed most.

“The sidewalks have been in need of replacement for awhile, but it was decided to wait until the construction on the various buildings was basically completed before the replacement of the sidewalks took place,” Strode said.