Improvements around Jones College’s main campus are constantly ongoing, which has occasionally caused the closing of a few roads around campus.
Micheal Bradshaw, the Director of Operations, who oversees the ongoing construction, as well as the maintenance, transportation and housekeeping departments, shared some of the current projects.
The Waterline Project
Bobcats noticed the orange nets and giant machinery around campus as soon as the fall semester began. Roads closed and parking was blocked. Many were curious as to what was actually being worked on because a noticeable change has not yet occurred. This is because they have been working underground.
“We have a new waterline project that we are installing. That is an eight-inch main waterline that services about half of the campus,” said Bradshaw. “That project has been going since the middle of May, and we should be finished by the end of September.”
Portions of College Drive and parts of Central Avenue were closed.
“I know that was hectic for students, especially the first day of school,” Bradshaw said, “If you will, send my apologies in this article.”
Campus Housing
Over the summer, Jones worked on improving campus housing by painting in both Anderson and Smith Halls, and repairing bathrooms and the suite entryways in Smith Hall.
“We try to go through each dorm at least every five years and redo paint jobs,” Bradshaw said. “We are planning to start some renovations in Wayne Hall next summer. We will start with the front part of Wayne and do the same thing we’ve done at Smith Hall.”
Stadium Circle Sidewalk Project
The Mississippi Department of Transportation, MDOT, supplies grant opportunities to provide pathways. Jones received one of these grants which are strictly to be used for pedestrian traffic.
“We’re building sidewalks from Smith Hall to the football stadium. They will have the decorative light poles, like you see throughout campus,” Bradshaw said.
With high hopes, this is just phase one of the project, which is predicted to be completed around the first week of October. Recently Jones received another grant from MDOT for phase two of this project.
“Phase two will be a walking pathway all the way from the Home and Health building to the Industrial Services building, and it will also have the decorative lights,” said Bradshaw, who said he hopes these projects will tie the campus together.
Student Union
Numerous students have noticed construction equipment and poles being placed at the entrance of the Student Union.
Low voltage lighting is being installed to enhance the entryway of the Student Union, which houses The Grill, The Bird N’ Brine and the campus coffee shop. While driving past, it appears to be a regular building on campus, but Bradshaw hopes to change this.
“We are going to try to draw attention,” Bradshaw said. “A little bit later on we hope to add signage that lets you know what services are in that building.”
Students noticed at the beginning of the fall semester that the bathrooms in the Student Union were now “singular use.” Renovation of the restrooms had begun during the summer. Since the stalls had not come in yet, they have had to be single use, but this will not last much longer.
Partitions are scheduled to arrive about the second week of October. Once they arrive, the Student Union restrooms will be complete.
Nursing Expansion
There is a total renovation going on in the center wing of the JB Young Building for the expansion of the Nursing program.
“It will be set up like a hospital,” said Bradshaw. “It’ll have an emergency room, an operating room, just hospital rooms where they do nursing training and such.”
Renovation of the center wing is projected to be completed during the spring semester of 2025.
Recently Completed Projects
New roofing and flooring were replaced in the Stringer Math Building.
New flooring was also put in the D.O Toms P.E. Building in preparation for the addition of Volleyball to Jones athletics.
Future Construction Plans
Application for another MDOT grant has been submitted. If received, this grant will provide another walkway on campus, from Anderson Hall to Jones Hall off of Central Avenue.
Construction at Central Avenue is expected to begin in the summer of 2025.
“A campus this size requires lots of repairs and renovations to keep up with the needs of students,” Bradshaw said. “We’ll always have some type of construction going on.”
by Sami Jordan