Senior Walk Etchings Delayed
(Photo by Chandler Cracraft)
Delays in Senior Walk etchings are soon to be resolved, UA Facilities Management officials said.
“We at FAMA have been very concerned about the concrete surface where the 2010 senior sidewalk names are to be installed. We are convinced that the design and construction of the walk are very good. We are also not concerned about the hardness of the concrete,” said Bob Beeler, UA director of design and construction services.
News about the delay in etching has reached recent graduates.
“I got a letter from the university telling me that they’re having problems with the concrete and my name hasn’t been put down yet,” said Jared Delaney, 2009 UA graduate.
The fear is that senior walk may deteriorate soon after the names are placed.
“The problem has been the amount of chert in the concrete that has caused ‘pop outs’ at the surface,” Beeler said.
Chert is a sedimentary rock material used in concrete, according to the National Park Service.
UA Facilities Management personnel have tested the concrete to determine whether or not the characteristics caused by the contaminants will cause the senior sidewalk surface to continue to deteriorate over time. They have also been experimenting with various repair methods and the durability of these methods, Beeler said.
“I believe we are at a point where the supplier is going to go forward with a repair method. We have tested the method for color and texture. We have tested the method by actually blasting some sample text, all with favorable results,” Beeler said.
The supplier, Arkhola Company, is expected to start those repairs this week.
“Our expectation is to see staff from Arkhola Company doing those repairs in the next few days. I do not know exactly how long the process will take. After this process is complete, adequate cure time is needed before the engraving process begins. The engraving process is weather dependant as you know, but we will be as diligent as we can be with the weather and try to finish the process as soon as we can,” Beeler said.
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Jack Ruby
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Jeremy
