On top of hauling their life’s belongings into dormitories during Wildcat Welcome Week, students had to contend with a labyrinth of orange road blocks.

The construction project that has swallowed the corner of Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue is the first stage of Illinois’ Sheridan Road Rehabilitation Project, scheduled to be completed in seven stages by the end of July 2011. This first stage will last through September, according to the University.

Southbound traffic from Sheridan Road has been detoured west on Foster Street and then south on Sherman Avenue.

Shuttle schedules are also being affected. Neither the Sheridan/Foster, nor the Chicago/Sheridan stop is currently open to southbound shuttles, while the Arch stop is closed for northbound shuttles.

A temporary replacement stop is located at the southwest corner of Clark Street and Chicago Avenue. The City of Evanston and the Illinois Department of Transportation are working to install new storm sewer and drainage structures, reconstruct portions of Sheridan Road, remove and replace curbs and gutters, and replace asphalt.

Stage one of construction goes north on the east side of Sheridan Road from the intersection of Sheridan and Chicago to Emerson Street. Stage two will mirror stage one on the opposite side of Sheridan.

By Nov. 15, stages three and four will also be complete. Construction will pause for winter until March 15, when work will resume on the final three stages.

During the winter shutdown, Sheridan Road will again be open to north and southbound traffic.