By Joseph Pawlowski

The skyline over Hempstead Turnpike will soon undergo a significant makeover as a third unispan will be constructed to link the north and south sides of campus.

The $5.3 million project was spurred by concerns about the safety of students crossing the busy intersection.

After dozens of crash fatalities, the State Department of Transportation named Hempstead Turnpike one of the most dangerous roads in New York State. Newsday called it one of the “fatal five” on Long Island.

Residents who live on the north side of campus rely on the unispan at the Student Center to reach the academic side of campus.

Even so, many students, especially those who reside in the Netherlands, choose not to walk out of their way to the Student Center, instead taking a risk by crossing the turnpike by foot.

In the past few years, 67 percent of the fatalities on Hempstead Turnpike were pedestrian-related, according to “Mobilizing the Region,” a weekly bulletin from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Pascale Ngo, a freshman mathematics major, admitted that she and others often bypass the Student Center by walking across the turnpike.

“It’s so dangerous to cross the turnpike without a unispan, but some of us are just too lazy to walk out of our way to the one that’s in the Student Center,” Ngo said.

Even before the addition of the second unispan, which stretches from Hagedorn Hall to the sports complex, plans were in the works for the construction of an overpass that would bridge the Netherlands complex with the academic side of campus, Melissa Connolly, vice president of University Relations, said.

In June, this plan will be put into motion and residents of the Netherlands agree that the unispan would be much appreciated.

Nick Cano, a freshman psychology major, said the unispan would be efficient and relieving.

“I’d love [the new unispan],” he said. “It’s such a hassle having to walk all the way over to the Student Center just to go across campus.”

Cano is among many students who question the significance of the unispan by Hagedorn Hall.

“We knew we were going to further develop that side of campus,” said Connolly. “There were several development options for that parcel of land and it ended up being Hagedorn Hall.”

Students also worry construction will dampen campus life by interfering with the normal running of the University. The situation has often been compared with the construction of the music building by Adams Hall, a source of numerous complaints.

“I think the unispan is a great idea as long as it doesn’t make the whole campus smell of tar,” Lauren Keough, a freshman mathematics major, said.

Connolly acknowledges such concern, ensuring that the most destructive work will take place in the summer months.

“Commencement to the end of June is the quietest time on campus,” she said.

To further promote the safety and well-being of residents, students may be required to swipe their identification cards to gain access to the unispan after a certain time, Connolly added. In doing so, intruders will not be able to approach the dorms by way of the unispan.

The University’s third unispan will keep students from crossing Hempstead Turnpike to reach the academic side of campus from the Netherlands complex.