Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
The Wright State University Board of Trustees has approved an additional $2 million for a project aimed at reshaping the front of the campus, bringing the total cost to $4.5 million.
The project includes construction of a roundabout and upgrades to streets near the student union. The entrance off Colonel Glenn Highway closest to the student union is currently closed during construction. A Chick-fil-A is also proposed for the area, drawing excitement from students and staff eager for another nearby dining option.
Javan Conley, associate vice president of facility operations, said during the trustees meeting that the project cost changed due to unexpected poor soil conditions, needed electric improvements and other issues that the project has run into, including the cost of fuel since the project started.
Conley asked for an additional $1.5 million to cover costs, with $500,000 to cover any contingencies.
“The original $2.5 million project budget was developed using conceptual quantities to maintain project momentum while design was underway,” Conley said. “As the design progressed, refined quantities resulted in an additional half a million dollars.”
Conley said going over budget is no longer a common occurrence at Wright State facilities. He said part of the reason why the university faced financial difficulties in 2018 was due to university overspending on capital projects.
