Starting Friday, many students will temporarily not be able to take their normal route to class across Sheridan Road due to construction on the street, Northwestern officials said Thursday afternoon.

The east-west crosswalk across Sheridan Road at the intersection where the road meets Chicago Avenue – the location of the Arch – will be blocked off, according to a news alert that will be sent to all students and staff Friday morning. Pedestrians will have to cross Sheridan north-south, between the Arch and Alice Millar Chapel, and then cross Sheridan/Chicago from the south side of the intersection.

Normally, many students stream across Sheridan east-west throughout the day, traveling to and from the main campus and the sorority quad.

The blockage will last longer than a day, but a specific timetable is not yet known, University spokesman Al Cubbage said.

Cubbage urged students to be extra cautious crossing the street due to the construction.

The full text of the University’s message is below:

Caution: Pedestrian Crossing Near Arch to Change

Due to the construction work on Sheridan Road in Evanston, the configuration of the pedestrian crossing at Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue near the Arch will change, effective Friday, Oct. 1.

Starting Friday, the crosswalk from the Arch west across Sheridan Road to Scott Hall will be closed. The crosswalk from the Arch south across Sheridan Road to Alice Millar Chapel will be open and the crosswalk from Millar Chapel west across Chicago Avenue will remain open. Pedestrians going from the main campus to the west side of Sheridan Road should first cross to the south side of Sheridan Road and then to the west side of Chicago Avenue.

Pedestrians are urged to use caution, obey the traffic signals and stay within the designated pedestrian areas when crossing at that intersection.